"Week of Slaughter" at Manchester dog track

A veteran greyhound racing enthusiast has vowed to "give up the game" after six greyhounds were "put down" following serious injuries at Manchester's Belle Vue dog track in just over a week.

The middle-aged man, who said he had raced dogs at the stadium for half his life, contacted greyhound protection group Greyhound Action on Sunday, after a two year old dog, called Ballyverry Rock, was "put down" after being badly injured in a race the previous evening.

The man, who asked for his name not to be divulged, said the dog's death was "the final straw" for him, after witnessing five fatal injuries to greyhounds at Belle Vue the previous weekend.

Greyhound Action's UK Co-ordinator, Tony Peters, said: "This gentleman contacted us, in a state of obvious distress, on Sunday,

"He claimed the Belle Vue track had become 'more dangerous than ever' and that six greyhounds had been 'put down', following serious injuries during races there in just over a week.

"He said he'd raced greyhounds at the track for half his life, but these latest fatalities were the 'final straw' and he was 'giving up the game' because of lack of concern by the racing industry for the welfare of the dogs.

"He asked us not to reveal his personal details, saying he'd be 'lynched', if 'certain people' involved with greyhound racing at Belle Vue discovered he'd been in touch with us.

"He didn't give the names of the five greyhounds who lost their lives the previous weekend, but we've been able to confirm, through other sources within the dog racing community, that his information was correct.

"Three of the dogs were Clubbing Night (age 3), who broke his leg after falling on the Friday, and Trinket Man and Sliding Bog (both age 2), who both suffered serious leg injuries on the Saturday.

"The other two are thought to be Melted Guide (age 3), who was involved in a collision with two other dogs on the Friday and Mystic Marauder (also age 3) who fell during a race on the Saturday.

"Toosey Fiona (age 2) sustained a serious leg injury (broken hock) during a trial race on Bank Holiday Monday, but her fate remains unknown.

"This Week of Slaughter follows the death of Dave the Twist (age 3) who was 'put down' after suffering a bad hock injury on August 12th.

"The tragic deaths of all these dogs is nothing new, as we have received a large number of reports in recent months of greyhounds losing their lives at Belle Vue Stadium, after being badly injured on the track. (See  http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1232532_30_injured_greyhounds_put_down_at_dog_track)

"Although these injuries are serious, in almost all cases the dogs could have been saved and they would have gone on to live happy lives following veterinary treatment, but they were put to death because they would no longer have been suitable for racing.

"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.

"In addition, hundreds of other greyhounds, bred because of the demand created by Belle Vue, are put to death as puppies or young dogs, before they even make it to the track, after being judged unsuitable for racing.

"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 Belle Vue as part of a campaign to get the track closed down. If you would like to support them, please contact Greyhound Action North-West at  greyhoundactionnorthwest@hotmail.co.uk or on 07952 238592.

The photo above, taken at a ceremony in memory of all the dogs killed at Belle Vue, can be downloaded in a larger size for printing (right click on picture) at  http://tinyurl.com/BV-Remembrance, free of charge.

For more information about the campaign against the suffering and slaughter caused by commercial greyhound racing, please visit Greyhound Action's website at
 http://www.greyhoundaction.org.uk or call Tony Peters on 01562 700 043 or 07703 558724.