PETER HARNDEN: ENFORCING WELFARE STANDARDS

I was pleased to see the GBGB injury and re-homing figures this week.

They consolidated on last year and confirmed just how many lies the antis have been telling to keep the cash rolling in (and their pay packets full).

But look a bit deeper and there are big problems that still need sorting. I can’t see the Government being satisfied unless those figures of 242 racing fatalities and 324 dogs not being found homes, keep going down. And they are not the only ones!

As a board member on GBGB, I am proud of the job we are doing and of the Greyhound Commitment. But we won’t crack those big figures without some significant changes. Mark Bird hinted at it some time ago when saying something like ‘10% of trainers are responsible for 80% of the re-homing problems’.

For those of us at the grass roots end of the industry, none of that comes as any surprise. It is always the same few have more ‘life threatening injuries’, or ‘un-rehomeable’ dogs than everyone else.

Now at this point, I can imagine some people saying ‘you can’t lay into trainers, you are supposed to represent them’.

The trouble is, I don’t want to represent that 10%. I don’t want any part of them selling the dogs short. Because they are also letting down the 90% of trainers who I do want to represent.

When a story gets into the national papers about greyhounds being treated badly, or kennels that are unfit for purpose, nobody cares that it is ‘only the 10%’. Everybody gets hammered.

I have been in this industry all my life and I know that vast majority of trainers are doing their best. Many might not have two bob to put together, but they put their dogs first.

I can also understand that there are people within that 10% who are struggling. I am genuinely sorry if that is the case. But the dogs shouldn’t be the casualties of it.

If you can’t make it pay – walk away.

I should make it clear that there is nothing wrong with old kennels, providing they are clean. You don’t need lots of staff, providing you don’t have too many dogs. But the dogs’ welfare must always come first. No excuses.

If it means the industry loses racing dogs, so be it. The way I see it, if the bookies want the extra racing, it shouldn’t be at a cost of lower welfare standards. They would have to increase incentives to the kennels who do comply with the rules and regulations.

I am not the only one who is frustrated and angry that there are people with trainer’s licenses who shouldn’t have them. Sooner or later, even some staunch ‘pro’ greyhound supporters will turn ‘anti’ if things don’t improve. I see signs of it already.

So who is to blame?

Having thought about it for a long time, and after having dozens of conversations about the way forward, I don’t think there is any problem with the Rules of Racing and guidelines on kennels.

Everything I see, and all the feedback I am getting, puts the problem down to lack of proper enforcement of the existing rules.

So – is it the fault of the stipes? Again, asking around, I so often hear tales of them not being supported when they try to take action.

I don’t know whether that is true – they might just be covering their own arses.

Either way, if they are not willing, or able, to do their jobs properly, or they are not being supported further up the chain of command, questions need to be asked – and I plan to ask them.