Local greyhound rescue workers have expressed shock and outrage after a trainer who races dogs at the Henlow track (Bedfordshire) had four healthy greyhounds "put to sleep" by a Hitchin vet.

Joanne Page, who trains greyhounds at kennels near Sandy, took the ex-racers to be "put down" at Berry House Vets in Hitchin last Wednesday.

Her actions caused shock and outrage throughout the local branch of Greyhound Rescue West of England, after one of their volunteers, who was in the vets at the time, tried in vain to save the dogs.

An international greyhound protection group, Greyhound Action, has also expressed dismay.

The group's UK co-ordinator, Tony Peters, said: "We first heard about the tragic deaths of these four dogs through an on-line greyhound forum and subsequently made enquiries to confirm what had happened.

"What is particularly tragic in this case is that the greyhounds could have been saved by local rescue workers, had the trainer in question approached them, instead of just taking the dogs to be 'put down'.

"Although we are dismayed at the putting to death of these greyhounds, we are not particularly surprised, as the killing of ex-racing dogs is still quite common, despite the existence of dedicated groups of people that try to save them.

"According to our research, at least 2,000 ex-racers are put to death annually in Britain, in addition to the 15,000 young greyhounds killed every year in the UK and Ireland after failing to come up to the required standard to run on British tracks.

"It is this appalling death toll that has led us to call on the public not to attend or bet on greyhound racing, so that it comes to a end through lack of financial support.

"In this case, however, the lives of these particular greyhounds could easily have been saved, which is why we believe the trainer in question should be banned from racing for what she has done."

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