On behalf of the two practitioner directors on the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, John Coleman (owners) and myself (trainers), we are publishing this open letter to the trustees of the Greyhound Trust.
Firstly, are deeply concerned as to the direction currently being pursued by the Trust with an agenda that seems hell bent on harming the greyhound industry.
We refer specifically to the recent leaflet produced by the Trust in which reference is made to the apparently miserable lives suffered by racing greyhounds, “who have led limited, sometimes lonely lives, from kennel to track and back”. Plus the demand to donate “before it is too late for even one more greyhound”
This is absolutely outrageous and suggests that owners and trainers are complicit in this implied cruelty.
Secondly, we are aware of accusations currently circulating on social media which suggest impropriety by Trust staff.
While we take no view as to the substance of these allegations, we find it incredible that the Trust has failed to make any statement to either explain or defend its position.
Quite frankly the silence has been deafening.
Firstly, we demand that the Trust Chairman and CEO issue a full apology in relation to the publication of this disgraceful leaflet along with the assurance that this particular method of fund raising will be discontinued.
Second, we ask that, given the explicit details included in the social media allegations, that the trustees order a full inquiry into these matters.
Any failure to do both we inevitably lead to a submission to the GBGB that it should give serious consideration to severing its association with Greyhound Trust.
Signed
Peter Harnden – John Coleman
