“The revelations in tonight’s programme require serious consideration regarding the Department of Agriculture’s engagements with and indeed funding of this industry.”
Social Democrats Co-Leader Catherine Murphy has said that the revelations in tonight’s upcoming RTÉ Investigates programme relating to the Irish Greyhound industry are extremely disturbing and give rise to significant questions regarding the State funding an industry with some barbaric practices and a clear indication of an associated underground marketplace for the export, torture or indeed killing of these gentle creatures.
Catherine Murphy TD said that the programme’s revelations showing that many dogs are ‘culled’ every year because they are superfluous to the industry’s needs, many others within the industry are subjected to doping and others still are exported illegally to China where they are often subjected to the cruellest of practices, are simply unacceptable in a civilised society.
“The fact that the State plays a part in significantly funding an industry that is intrinsically connected to such barbaric practices requires significant attention. While of course there are many breeders, trainers, and good people who care about the animals, the reality is they are operating within an industry that clearly has serious issues with animal welfare practices.”
“In the last few years Australia has run a public information campaign about Greyhounds and the fact that they make extremely good home pets, particularly for people with small spaces or inactive lifestyles as they are naturally very lazy dogs who enjoy a warm home and lots of sleep. These dogs are affectionately known as 40mph couch potatoes and it is unconscionable to think that they are being treated in such inhumane ways because they are deemed not useful for profit-making purposes. The revelations in tonight’s programme require serious consideration regarding the Department of Agriculture’s engagements with and indeed funding of this industry.”
Catherine Murphy TD said that the programme’s revelations showing that many dogs are ‘culled’ every year because they are superfluous to the industry’s needs, many others within the industry are subjected to doping and others still are exported illegally to China where they are often subjected to the cruellest of practices, are simply unacceptable in a civilised society.
“The fact that the State plays a part in significantly funding an industry that is intrinsically connected to such barbaric practices requires significant attention. While of course there are many breeders, trainers, and good people who care about the animals, the reality is they are operating within an industry that clearly has serious issues with animal welfare practices.”
“In the last few years Australia has run a public information campaign about Greyhounds and the fact that they make extremely good home pets, particularly for people with small spaces or inactive lifestyles as they are naturally very lazy dogs who enjoy a warm home and lots of sleep. These dogs are affectionately known as 40mph couch potatoes and it is unconscionable to think that they are being treated in such inhumane ways because they are deemed not useful for profit-making purposes. The revelations in tonight’s programme require serious consideration regarding the Department of Agriculture’s engagements with and indeed funding of this industry.”
26th June 2019
[ENDS]