The most prestigious of all the greyhound welfare organisations, the Greyhound Forum, chaired by former Dogs Trust CEO Clarissa Baldwin CBE, have given a strong endorsement to Lord Lispey following his offer to mediate in the dispute between the greyhound industry and the bookmakers.
The former BGRB Chairman, who has been vocal in the Lords over various issues relating to the replacement of the Horseracing Levy, will engage in negotiations over a parallel deal for greyhound racing. The legislation for a new funding mechanism for the thoroughbred has already been passed by Parliament but awaits clearance from the EU.
The Greyhound Forum Statement reads:
Members of the Greyhound Forum have warmly welcomed the news that Lord Lipsey is to act as mediator with the Bookmakers.
Horse racing enjoys a statutory levy whilst the Greyhound Industry struggles to get Bookmakers to pay the 0.6% voluntary levy, leaving greyhound welfare in a woeful and deplorable state.
A recent report by Dogs Trust showed that many trainers’ kennels were in a parlous state leading to concerns about the dogs. Indeed a trainer who was recently banned passed 20+ of his dogs to welfare groups who found them to have extreme flea and worm infestations, poor dental health, untreated wounds, low body weight, pressure sores and poor coat condition. It cost the group considerable amount of money to bring them back to full health before they could be rehomed.
The Greyhound Board of Great Britain sent a promissory note to the Minister of the time, George Eustice, where it has been agreed that trainers’ kennels will be brought up to a welfare friendly standard, injury statistics will be publicly available and data collected will enable safety standards to be driven upwards, fates of greyhounds too, will become readily available, helping charities to plan to aid their rehoming. In order to fulfil these obligations a large amount of funding is required.
The EFRA Select Committee has advised that increased Bookmaker funding is essential and the DCMS Minister, Tracey Crouch has written to the Bookmakers encouraging their further commitment. To date the Bookmakers have been silent in response.
Chairman of the Greyhound Forum, Clarissa Baldwin said ” Greyhounds are fortunate to have Lord Lipsey on their side. Known to enjoy the company of greyhounds and greyhound racing, he is a tough,fair, knowledgeable and experienced negotiator. We wish him well in his negotiations and sincerely hope that those Bookmakers who fail to live up to their moral obligations will listen and comply with his requests”.
Clarissa Baldwin CBE
Chairman GreyhoundForum
