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Oct
Oct
Dog Trainer Charged After Dog Doped With Cocaine
A trainer "attached" to Sheffield's Owlerton Stadium, who regularly races greyhounds there, has been charged with offences by greyhound racing authorities after one of his dogs tested positive for cocaine. Stuart Mason, who trains greyhounds at kennels near Wakefield, faces a Greyhound Board of Great Britain inquiry after it was confirmed that his dog Droopys Arshavin tested positive for cocaine and its metabolite benzoylecgonine following a race at Wimbledon on August 3rd, writes Greyhound Watch.
Mason raced the dog again at Sheffield a week later. An international greyhound protection group has said it is angry but not surprised after hearing of the allegations against Mr Mason. "The group's UK Co-ordinator, Tony Peters, said: "Sadly, the doping of racing greyhounds appears to be widespread and most of it goes undetected. "For public relations reasons, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain makes a show of trying to catch offenders and, from time to time, somebody is charged, but this case is really only the tip of a very large iceberg.
"Although doping is obviously carried out to defraud bookmakers and other punters, our main concern is the harm it causes to the dogs and the risk to their lives of giving them substances like cocaine. "It is yet another example of how little those in the racing industry care about the dogs they use as money-making commodities. "We are calling on the police to investigate, as a Class A drug has been administered to this greyhound, which is far too serious a matter just to be left to the racing authorities.
"In addition to the problems caused by doping, thousands of injuries to greyhounds, many of them serious, occur every year in Britain. The main reason for this is that the shape of the tracks, with fast straights leading into tight bends, creates a very dangerous environment for dogs to run in. "Two years ago, a report by investigative group Greyhound Watch branded Owlerton 'one of the most dangerous greyhound tracks in Britain', because of the number of injuries occuring there. (See http://www.thestar.co.uk/headlines/Owlerton-track–is-39dangerous39.4376123.jp)
"What is even worse is that, according to recent research, more than 12,000 greyhounds, bred for the British racing industry, are 'put down' every year, after failing to make the grade as racers or when their 'careers' on the tracks come to an end. "An RSPCA report on greyhound racing has stated that 'at least 20 greyhounds a day – either puppies which do not make the track, or retired dogs aged three or four – simply disappear, presumed killed'.
"Members of the public can help put an end to this horrific situation by not attending dog tracks or betting on greyhound racing, so this appalling death-industry fades away through lack of financial support." Local Greyhound Action supporters hold regular demos outside Owlerton Stadium as part of a campaign to get the greyhound track closed down. A photo taken at one of their demonstrations can be viewed and downloaded (right click on picture) at http://tinyurl.com/OwlertonDemo for use, free of charge.
Anyone wanting to help the campaign to close the Owlerton track, please contact Sheffield Greyhound Action at sheffieldgreyhoundaction@googlemail.com or on 07757 278824
I JUST DONT KNOW WHAT THE WORLD IS COMING TO – CLASS A DRUGS IN DOGS IS TOTALLY DISPICABLE – ANY DRUGS IS BAD ENOUGH BUT CLASS A. I WILL NEVER ENTER A GREYHOUND RACE TRACK – WE HAVE TWO UP NORTH AND I JUST WONT GO TO THEM. ALL RACE TRACKS SHOULD BE BANNED.
Good to know this trainer has been charged when his greyhound was found to have been doped with cocaine. There are so many welfare issues within the racing fraternity that it defies all logic. There seems to be a reluctance to do anything about the issues such as greyhounds kept in squalid kennels forced to sleep in their own muck. There seems to be an attitude stating as long as my greyhounds are well taken care of it dosen´t matter what happens to the neighboring kennels. I would have thought that decent owners and trainers would band together to demand better conditions for all racing greyhounds and certainly safer tracks that are less dangerous for the greyhounds to race on. However the reality is there are so many greyhounds to be had for a pittance that they have no real value for those who race them. They have become production units as long as they win races they are an asset when loosing they become a liability. Young healthy greyhounds with fractured hocks wrists or damaged Gracilius are put down because it is far cheaper than having them vetted and turned over to rescue. It is a very sad attitude towards the greyhounds who make them money. Should they not all be granted better protection and certainly the right to a second chance at life? Personally I own three ex-racers and one whippet and I can only say that life with these noble sighthounds is a priveledge. I have a seven year old greyhound who was raced at the Owlerton track in Sheffield before he was sold to an owner in Denmark where he raced at the track in Odense until I bought him on December 18 2008. A day I will never forget. He has come a long way since that day I brought him home. It just goes to show that all greyhounds deserve that vital second chance. The world he lives in now is very diffrent from whence he came he is a family member just like any other breed of dog and he is loved. Please give more greyhounds a chance to live instead of a premature cruel death. Lisbeth Mønsted Larsen Greyhound Action Denmark.
I agree Tracy on the grounds of cruelty. These oval tracks are not safe for the greyhounds to race on. The short sharp bends and long fast straights cause more accidents than nescessary. Lives are put at stake every time the greyhounds run. In my humble opinion it has stopped being a sport for all now its a deadly passtime for those wanting to make some money from their greyhounds. I find it to be cruel. in the sense that the tracks should be improved and certainly more humane for the greyhounds to run on.It should not be risking their precious lives every single time they race.Better welfare is vital. Far too many greyhounds live in squalid kennels not fit to live in for any other dogs but greyhounds are not regarded as other breeds of dog. They have become production units. Hence the minimum care they are subjected to. Those of us who happen to get the greyhounds from the tracks when their racingcareers are over. We see the sad results of greyhounds having raced hard for a long or short time in their behavior and reactions volumes of neglect and consideration can be found . Athritis speaks volumes of a hard life. In some we find urinescaldings some have intestinel parasites. Some have rotten teeth some have teeth covered with blakish grey tartar is this the level of care they should be afforded is this enough? In my opinion it is a disgrace and says more about the racing industry than happy faces and claims of greyhounds loving to race. This kind of abuse should be stopped.Greyhounds deserve the same protection afforded other breeds of dog why haven´t they got it.?