Comments on: Sports Betting Firm Backs Retired Greyhound http://www.dogmagazine.net/archives/214/sports-betting-firm-backs-retired-greyhound/ the lifestyle magazine for dog lovers Sat, 11 Jun 2011 15:23:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Holly http://www.dogmagazine.net/archives/214/sports-betting-firm-backs-retired-greyhound/#comment-674 Holly Sun, 28 Oct 2007 02:38:53 +0000 http://www.dogmagazine.net/sports-betting-firm-backs-retired-greyhound/#comment-674 In a Northern Echo article dated 24th August, far from condeming David Smith, Ivor Stocker chose to claim that David Smith and his supporters were 'clearly dog lovers who have dog welfare at heart'. The whole issue and evidence suggests, Mr Stocker, is that they had their finances at heart and chose to dispose of the greyhounds as cheaply as possible. £10 a greyhound with a bolt gun. I believe that it would be 'fantastic' if the Racing Industry as whole, were to accept that ex racing greyhounds were their responsiblity and fund the greyhounds retirement, no matter what the cost. http://archive.thenorthernecho.co.uk/2006/8/24/231256.html Ivor Stocker, director of the Retired Greyhound Trust said: "The trust exists to find loving homes for ex-racing greyhounds."It would be fantastic if a few of those 2,000 people who have signed the petition in support of David Smith, many of whom are clearly dog lovers and have dog welfare at heart, were able to offer homes for these wonderful animals and help them live out their retirement to the fullest." In a Northern Echo article dated 24th August, far from condeming David Smith, Ivor Stocker chose to claim that David Smith and his supporters were ‘clearly dog lovers who have dog welfare at heart’.
The whole issue and evidence suggests, Mr Stocker, is that they had their finances at heart and chose to dispose of the greyhounds as cheaply as possible. £10 a greyhound with a bolt gun.
I believe that it would be ‘fantastic’ if the Racing Industry as whole, were to accept that ex racing greyhounds were their responsiblity and fund the greyhounds retirement, no matter what the cost.

http://archive.thenorthernecho.co.uk/2006/8/24/231256.html

Ivor Stocker, director of the Retired Greyhound Trust said: “The trust exists to find loving homes for ex-racing greyhounds.”It would be fantastic if a few of those 2,000 people who have signed the petition in support of David Smith, many of whom are clearly dog lovers and have dog welfare at heart, were able to offer homes for these wonderful animals and help them live out their retirement to the fullest.”

]]> By: Lucy Lemon http://www.dogmagazine.net/archives/214/sports-betting-firm-backs-retired-greyhound/#comment-666 Lucy Lemon Sat, 27 Oct 2007 22:33:13 +0000 http://www.dogmagazine.net/sports-betting-firm-backs-retired-greyhound/#comment-666 In response to the above 'freelance' writer. Before you even consider donating your hard earned money to the RGT and the Racing Industry, Please read the following FACTS! Yes, by giving money to the RGT, you are giving money to the Bookmakers, The National Greyhound Racing Club and the British Greyhound Racing Board, the very people who are responsible for their ex racing greyhounds, once they become 'losers' and therfore a financial liablity. Fact 1 Before you are even asked to home one of the 10,000+ annually retired racing greyhounds, a large percentage of them will have been PTS for one of the reasons that the Industry finds acceptable. Such as:- UNSUITABLE AS A PET INJURY NOT TREATED ON ECONOMIC GROUNDS NO HOME OR RETIREMENT PLACE COULD BE FOUND Do you find these acceptable reasons to ‘dispose’ of a greyhound? Are you happy supporting the Industry that does? Fact 2 The British Greyhound Racing Board knows what happens to each greyhound upon retirement and how many are unaccounted for via their Retirement Forms. The RGT branches and their volunteers claim to have re-homed nearly 4,000 greyhounds in 2006. A wonderful achievement yet the Industry will not make public statistics for the remaining 6,000+ annually retired greyhounds. Do you think they have something to hide? Are you happy supporting an Industry that is clearly deceitful regarding the fate of their greyhounds? Fact 3 Lord Lipsey claimed at the beginning of 2007 that this year would be a ‘Make or break’ year for the Racing Industry and further stated that by the middle of 2007 the Racing Industry would be in a much more ‘defensible welfare position’. Finding themselves in a much more ‘defensible welfare position’ the RGT then planned to make extensive cuts in the numbers of kennelled greyhounds by 31st August 2007 Do you think they have been using you, the volunteers to project good re-homing figures? Are you happy to continue to support an Industry that shows so little gratitude to the RGT? http://www.youtube.com:80/watch?v=ZykPOX9ncgY Fact 4 In 2006, The British Greyhound Racing Board received a donation of £100,000 at its disposal to award grants to ‘Independent Greyhound Rescue Centres’. Of that £100,000. 2 commercial kennels received grants of £2,000 each, 3 greyhound trainers received grants of £5,000 each, one RGT branch received a grant of £5,000 and a Deborah Mullins(Essex) received £5,000. Only 71% of the remaining fund went to established/Independent Rescue Centres. Do you think it’s fair that nearly £30,000 was allocated to Commercial kennels, Greyhound Trainers, a new RGT branch and a Ms Deborah Mullins? Are you happy supporting an Industry that diverts grants back into its Commercial Sector, when it is intended for hard working, volunteer run Charitable Rescue Centres that are far more cost effective? http://thedogs.co.uk/index.php?m=aid&id=268 Fact 5 In July alone, the National Greyhound Racing Club held 5 Stewards Inquiries regarding ‘drug’ incidents and a further 9 into ‘enhanced/decreased’ performances. The vast majority of the trainers received only a caution or small fine. Do you think it’s fair to abuse greyhounds for pure financial gain? Are you happy to support an Industry that tolerates cheats? http://www.ngrc.org.uk/rec_inquiries.asp?cat=6&page=242 Fact 6 During 2006, the British Greyhound Racing Fund awarded over £11 million in grants. More than 36% (£3 million) to support Prize Money, just over 18% (£2 million) to refurbish Racing Stadiums and 13% (£1.5 million) being given to the RGT. Do you think it’s fair that Prize Money should be increased for the elite few winners and restaurants should be fitted with plush surroundings, whilst there are still huge waiting lists of retired losing greyhounds to be re-homed? Are you happy continuing to support an Industry who considers Prize Money and luxuries priority over greyhound welfare? http://www.bgrf.org.uk/expenditure.asp IN OUR HUMBLE OPINION The Racing Industry has never been responsible in its attitude to Greyhound Welfare. It has only been since the The Times exposure of greyhounds being slaughtered on a massive scale at Seaham, did the Industry bow to public pressure and commence a PR campaign to win public confidence by publicising increased funding to the RGT. The Industry did not suddenly find themselves guilt ridden neither did they voluntarily introduce welfare improvements, the Industry were forced into such by the public. If you sincerely care for the long term welfare of ex racing greyhounds, then dont attend Greyhound Racing and support campaigns to abolish it. The British Greyhound Racing Board has just announced an extra £150,000 is to be allocated in prize money to trainers and owners!!! Mr Stoker, do you think its actually moral to emotionally blackmail the public into supporting the RGT, when the industry has more than enough funds to ensure the welfare of each and every ex racing greyhound? In response to the above ‘freelance’ writer.
Before you even consider donating your hard earned money to the RGT and the Racing Industry, Please read the following FACTS! Yes, by giving money to the RGT, you are giving money to the Bookmakers, The National Greyhound Racing Club and the British Greyhound Racing Board, the very people who are responsible for their ex racing greyhounds, once they become ‘losers’ and therfore a financial liablity.

Fact 1
Before you are even asked to home one of the 10,000+ annually retired racing greyhounds, a large percentage of them will have been PTS for one of the reasons that the Industry finds acceptable. Such as:-
UNSUITABLE AS A PET
INJURY NOT TREATED ON ECONOMIC GROUNDS
NO HOME OR RETIREMENT PLACE COULD BE FOUND
Do you find these acceptable reasons to ‘dispose’ of a greyhound?
Are you happy supporting the Industry that does?
Fact 2
The British Greyhound Racing Board knows what happens to each greyhound upon retirement and how many are unaccounted for via their Retirement Forms.
The RGT branches and their volunteers claim to have re-homed nearly 4,000 greyhounds in 2006. A wonderful achievement yet the Industry will not make public statistics for the remaining 6,000+ annually retired greyhounds.
Do you think they have something to hide?
Are you happy supporting an Industry that is clearly deceitful regarding the fate of their greyhounds?
Fact 3
Lord Lipsey claimed at the beginning of 2007 that this year would be a ‘Make or break’ year for the Racing Industry and further stated that by the middle of 2007 the Racing Industry would be in a much more ‘defensible welfare position’. Finding themselves in a much more ‘defensible welfare position’ the RGT then planned
to make extensive cuts in the numbers of kennelled greyhounds by 31st August 2007
Do you think they have been using you, the volunteers to project good re-homing figures?
Are you happy to continue to support an Industry that shows so little gratitude to the RGT?
http://www.youtube.com:80/watch?v=ZykPOX9ncgY
Fact 4
In 2006, The British Greyhound Racing Board received a donation of £100,000 at its disposal to award grants to ‘Independent Greyhound Rescue Centres’.
Of that £100,000. 2 commercial kennels received grants of £2,000 each, 3 greyhound trainers received grants of £5,000 each, one RGT branch received a grant of £5,000 and a Deborah Mullins(Essex) received £5,000. Only 71% of the remaining fund went to established/Independent Rescue Centres.
Do you think it’s fair that nearly £30,000 was allocated to Commercial kennels, Greyhound Trainers, a new RGT branch and a Ms Deborah Mullins?
Are you happy supporting an Industry that diverts grants back into its Commercial Sector, when it is intended for hard working, volunteer run Charitable Rescue Centres that are far more cost effective?
http://thedogs.co.uk/index.php?m=aid&id=268
Fact 5
In July alone, the National Greyhound Racing Club held 5 Stewards Inquiries regarding ‘drug’ incidents and a further 9 into ‘enhanced/decreased’ performances.
The vast majority of the trainers received only a caution or small fine.
Do you think it’s fair to abuse greyhounds for pure financial gain?
Are you happy to support an Industry that tolerates cheats?
http://www.ngrc.org.uk/rec_inquiries.asp?cat=6&page=242
Fact 6
During 2006, the British Greyhound Racing Fund
awarded over £11 million in grants. More than 36% (£3 million) to support Prize Money, just over 18% (£2 million) to refurbish Racing Stadiums and 13% (£1.5 million) being given to the RGT.
Do you think it’s fair that Prize Money should be increased for the elite few winners and restaurants should be fitted with plush surroundings, whilst there are still huge waiting lists of retired losing greyhounds to be re-homed?
Are you happy continuing to support an Industry who considers Prize Money and luxuries priority over greyhound welfare?
http://www.bgrf.org.uk/expenditure.asp

IN OUR HUMBLE OPINION
The Racing Industry has never been responsible in its attitude to Greyhound Welfare. It has only been since the The Times exposure of greyhounds being slaughtered on a massive scale at Seaham, did the Industry bow to public pressure and commence a PR campaign to win public confidence by publicising increased funding to the RGT. The Industry did not suddenly find themselves guilt ridden neither did they voluntarily introduce welfare improvements, the Industry were forced into such by the public.
If you sincerely care for the long term welfare of ex racing greyhounds, then dont attend Greyhound Racing and support campaigns to abolish it.

The British Greyhound Racing Board has just announced an extra £150,000 is to be allocated in prize money to trainers and owners!!!
Mr Stoker, do you think its actually moral to emotionally blackmail the public into supporting the RGT, when the industry has more than enough funds to ensure the welfare of each and every ex racing greyhound?

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