The EFRA Committee findings in its two year review of the greyhound industry, following the introduction of the Racing Greyhound Regulations under the 2010 Animal Welfare Act has been published.
Here is our summary of some of the key points:
1 – That GBGB should make public all data relating to injuries, re-homings and euthanasia.
2 – That the betting industry has a duty to financially support greyhound welfare via profits from its regular, on-line and overseas trade.
3 – That UKAS monitoring should be extended to greyhound trainers’ own kennels – in addition to track kennels, as is currently the case.
They invite DEFRA to consider
4 – That new kennelling standards should be introduced.
5 – That the greyhound industry should increase its welfare spend and consider other methods for raising revenue for that purpose.
6 – That a minimum standard of track preparation and maintenance should be introduced at GBGB and independent tracks.
7 – That GBGB’s welfare committee should analyse inspection data and integrate into new standards.
8 – The introduction of random inspections at trainers kennels.
9 – Development of industry wide standards and provisions for training kennel staff.
10 – Initiatives to reduce the poor dental health in racing greyhounds.
A press release from the Greyhound Forum reads:
Members of the Greyhound Forum have responded very positively to the results of the EFRA committee findings. Clarissa Baldwin, Chair of the Forum, said ” the committee have gone to a great deal of trouble to get to the heart of the problem, keeping the welfare of greyhounds central to their thoughts whilst remaining necessarily pragmatic”.
On behalf of the welfare charities, she went on to add ” In recent months it would appear that the GBGB have accepted their overall responsibility for the sport: that it is no longer acceptable to be totally opaque when it comes to statistics and that the welfare of dogs must be central to the continuance of the sport. A comment that the members of EFRA committee have made quite forcibly and have recommended becomes part of the review”
Another significant point that EFRA has made is that In order that the sport continues to enjoy its income generation, the Bookmakers need to make a sizeable investment to cover the care and welfare of their main interest, the dog, something that has been lacking for years.
Clarissa adds , “We sincerely hope that DEFRA will add these recommendations to the proposals for reform of the current regulations”. ” this report certainly heralds changes which could bring ‘a better deal’ for the greyhounds”.
Forum members are : Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Blue Cross, Dogs Trust, Greyhounds in Need, Greyhound Rescue West of England, Kennel Club, Retired Greyhound Trust, Greyhound Rescue Wales, RSPCA, Wood Green Animal Shelters.
