An international greyhound protection group has renewed its calls for greyhound racing to be brought to an end at Peterborough Stadium, after receiving news of the death of yet another dog at the track.

Greyhound Action was contacted by a sympathetic stadium official, who informed them that a three year old female greyhound, called Rathtooterny Zip, was fatally injured during a race last Tuesday (December 30th).

The dog was "put down" after her right hock snapped just after she had rounded a turn in the third race of the evening and, according to the official, the break was so bad that the "bone was sticking right through the skin".

This latest incident is, sadly, just one more addition to a whole catalogue of fatal injuries and deaths of greyhounds that have occurred at the stadium.

On October 18th, two dogs, Glandore Queen and Hanoi Son, were "put down", after sustaining serious leg injuries while racing at Peterborough.

In July there was an outcry amongst animal protection campaigners at the news that a greyhound (He's A Cheetah) had broken his neck after falling during a race and another (Milo Blackbird) had been "put down" after trying to play with other greyhounds in a trial at the stadium.

And, in April, a greyhound called Ashwell Assassin collapsed and died following a race.

The latest revelation comes just 8 months after a former trainer attached to the stadium was banned from keeping dogs following an RSPCA prosecution.

Greyhound Action's UK Co-ordinator, Tony Peters, said: "A man who holds a responsible position at the stadium has been in touch with us regarding the death of Rathtooterny Zip last Tuesday. He has become disillusioned with the greyhound racing industry, because of the illtreatment of the dogs, but we have persuaded him to remain in his job, at least for the time being, so he can provide
us with information.

"This string of greyhound deaths at the stadium follows the conviction in April of former greyhound trainer Rebecca Hagger for causing unnecessary suffering to three greyhounds and failing to meet the welfare needs of another four. Peterborough Magistrates banned Hagger from keeping animals for 10
years and ordered her to do community service.
(See www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/Dogs-left-to-suffer-in.4028724.jp)

"This latest tragic incident, very sadly, comes as no surprise to us.

"Such horrific injuries to greyhounds racing on the tracks are all too common and we are often contacted by members of the public or sympathetic stadium workers who have witnessed them.

"Thousands of injuries to racing greyhounds occur every year, many of them serious. 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.

"Because track owners fear they will lose money through racing being called off, races are quite often run in unsuitable conditions, which increase the risk of dogs getting injured.

"The injury to Rathtooterny Zip was obviously serious, but we would question the decision to put her down. Broken hocks in greyhounds, even when serious, can be repaired and they can go on to live long and happy lives afterwards.

"Obviously, such dogs would no longer be any good for racing, which is why we believe the greyhounds' lives were ended for commercial reasons, rather than out of genuine concern for their well-being.

"Sadly, even less serious injuries, which spectators may not be aware of, can still end up being lethal, as greyhounds are often "put down", if it's considered to be not worth the money to get them fit for racing again.

"Ex-racing greyhounds often suffer considerably in later life because of the unnatural stresses and strains imposed on their bodies through racing on the tracks.

"Even more serious than the large number of injuries to racing dogs is the fact that many thousands of greyhounds get put to death every year, simply because they are considered not good enough for racing.

Our latest research indicates that over 15,000 greyhounds are "put down" annually after being judged unsuitable to race on British tracks or when their racing "careers" come to an end, either through age or injury.

"This means that each of Britain's 28 major dog tracks, including Peterborough is, on average, responsible for the deaths of more than 500 greyhounds annually.

"According to an RSPCA statement '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'.

"In recent years, national media exposés have highlighted the wholesale slaughter of ex-racing greyhounds and several mass graves containing the bodies of shot greyhounds have been discovered in various parts of the country.

"And, just two months ago, the Sunday Times reported that a knackers yard in Hertfordshire was killing greyhounds that had come from Peterborough. (See
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5063056.ece)

"There are local greyhound rescue groups, who do excellent work in finding homes for some of the dogs that 'retire' from racing at the stadium, but this only amounts to a minority of the greyhounds disposed of because of the existence of the Peterborough track.

"Greyhound racing also causes the death of many thousands of other dogs apart from greyhounds, as places in homes and rescue kennels, which could go to other stray and 'unwanted' dogs, are taken up by greyhounds got rid of by the racing industry, meaning that those other dogs are 'put down' because there is nowhere for them to go.

"The rules of that controls dog racing at Peterborough and Britain's other major tracks, encourage greyhounds to be treated as disposable commodities, by allowing racing owners to get rid of dogs, including having them put to death, once they are no longer of use for racing.

"Greyhound Action believes that the only real solution to this horrific state of affairs is for commercial greyhound racing to be ended. Nine states in the USA have banned greyhound racing in recent years, so there is no reason why a ban shouldn't be imposed in the UK.

"In the meantime it is important to educate the public to boycott greyhound racing. If enough people refrained from attending greyhound racing and stopped betting on races, then the activity would die out through lack of financial support.

"Our local supporters demonstrate and distribute leaflets quite frequently outside Peterborough Stadium, as part of their campaign to end dog racing there, and this latest appalling incident will, without doubt, cause them to redouble their efforts."

For more information, contact Tony Peters on 01562 700 043 or 07703 558724.
See also the Greyhound Action website at www.greyhoundaction.org.uk