Last Blog Words For UK Greyhounds.

Dear great advocates,
GS would like to thank all of you for keeping in touch with this Blog and joining the various campaigns, which have had an impact, such as the Bothar campaign which led to them exploring further into the points GS and advocates raised and resulted in them responding with:

 'important and striking points' were raised, going on to say -

'We [Bothar] are all agreed that the various viewpoints on the issue [support of greyhound racing] need to be further explored at an organisational level and we intend to pursue this in the new year'.

Then going on to add, in a further email after indeed exploring those 'viewpoints' raised, how they -

'think it is most unlikely that we would repeat this in the future.'

And the Reading campaign, which raised awareness to Reading Borough Council Cabinet Members of the Greyhound plight and resulted in RBC agreeing that:

[they]'would commission a report on the welfare of greyhounds to be considered' before any planning decision would be made.

Adding that the Cabinet 'all took the representations [they] received very seriously'

RBC agreed to re-market the site for the Greyhound Track:

'We have agreed to remarket the site. In the event that anyone wishing to build a stadium which might include greyhound racing facilities should make an offer we have asked that a full report on the welfare of greyhounds so that the council can take a decision which takes that into account.
I do not know how long it will take to receive any offers at this stage, but hope you are reassured we are taking the issues raised by the public about greyhounds into account.'

But the campaigns/petitions and awareness raising, sadly, will continue. 

For efficiency, future campaigns are now in one place along with up to date News, Petitions, Awareness, Demonstrations, Events etc.

Please now continue your support for the Greyhounds via the Greyhound Safe Website.

But for one last time here on the Blog please take a moment to join with these campaigns for UK Greyhounds.

* 'Final' decision on Walthamstow Stadium in two weeks.

Please politely email Mayor of London:

Boris.Johnson@london.gov.uk; mayor@london.gov.uk

Of the Greyhound plight and why Walthamstow Greyhound Track should stay closed. 

*Nik Budimir, the prominent greyhound owner and businessman, further urges MP Andrew Smith to “seek confirmation of all material fact”...concerning Oxford Greyhound Track.

Please write a polite short email to MP Andrew Smith: AndrewSmith.MP@gmail.com to highlight your concerns of the Greyhound plight.

Please also take a moment to sign and share the petition to Close Oxford Greyhound Track.

*Winning Words in the Workplace!Help stop nights out at the dogs -

Packs available from Action for Greyhounds. A few years ago, with some great success, the Winning Words! campaign was launched, to educate ordinary people who are going for “a night at the dogs” and to persuade them not to do so or, at least, never to do so again.

*Please add your name to and share Close Wimbledon Greyhound Track and End Commercial Greyhound Racing in the UK

* Towcester Greyhound Track, to open in 2013, recently announced a TV deal for global broadcasting of their races, please join in the action if you can, email: 

notowcestergreyhounds@hotmail.co.uk for action news and updates. A demonstration has been organised for  the 25th November and you can join the FaceBook group No To Towcester Greyhounds for further information on regular demonstrations.

Close Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium

Please sign and share the petition to Close Wimbledon Greyhound Track.

As seen with the pro-racing call to save Oxford Greyhound Track, pro-racers are also calling to save Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium, stating in their petition that if they 'lose [their] last stadium in London, greyhound racing in Britain will never recover'.

Plans were revealed in May to retain the abuse of Greyhounds for monetary gains at Wimbledon, despite Racing Manager, Gary Mathews, speaking earlier this year of the decline of the racing industry:'“Fewer people are getting involved,” observes Gary, who is one of the clear thinkers in the game who does not subscribe to the much-touted, misguided view held by those from another planet that greyhound racing is currently enjoying a renaissance – it is not, simple as!'

It seems then that Paschal Taggart, with his 'ambitious plans', is turning a blind eye to this statement and of how just a few years ago money was thrown at Wimbledon to 'improve the customer experience'. Mr. Taggart(ex Irish Greyhound Board Chairman)is said to have a  'proven track record in the managment and operation of Greyhound Stadiums', but not without controversy in the doping of Greyhounds.

Please sign and share this petition callling on Merton Council to support the bid from AFC Wimbledon to return football back to the site and NOT to support a racing industry in decline, an industry only sustained on the cruellty and abuse of thousands of Greyhounds every year.

Close Oxford Greyhound Track

Please sign and share this petition calling for Oxford Greyhound Track to Close

Opponents of the recently presented Housing Plans from Galliard Homes for Oxford Greyhound track, are to petition the Government and Oxford City Council to try and continue racing Greyhounds at the track.
Housing Plans are to be submitted later this year and could finaly see an end to Greyhounds suffering for Oxford, where Andrew Raven, spokesman for Galliard Homes has said 'that greyhound racing had no future there as it made insufficient money. '

Please sign this petition in support of an end to Greyhounds suffering for tradition at Oxford.

By signing this petition you can help raise awareness to Oxford City Council how:
* Recently, Michael Peterson faced 2 serious disciplinary charges for positive greyhound urine samples, on the eve of quitting as an Oxford Trainer, shortly after a preliminary investigation into 2 Oxford Trainers' Greyhounds showed improved performance.
*And the recent death of a greyohund, who was found distressed on being taken out of his racing kennel shortly before being raced at Oxford.

These are just a few examples of the sad reality that greyhounds endure to sustain an Industry in decline.
An industry that takes very little regard or responsibility of the thousands of greyhounds bred for it.

With the opportunity now presented by Galliard Homes to see the track used with an ethical future, it is now time for Oxford City Council to take notice of the greyhound plight.

Please see Greyhound Safe for further information on how you can join the voice for greyhounds.

Greyhound Safe Launches Website

Frequent viewers and users of the Greyhound Safe Blog will notice a few small changes to this Blog site.
But do not worry! All relevant links/information will now be available on the recently launched website.

You will find familiar links and information but with much more 

You will be able to keep up-to-date with news of interest to the campaign for Greyhounds, Demonstrations & Awareness information from around the world, bullet points of the Greyhound Plight and a useful Archive amongst further new pages to highlight the need for campaigning for Greyhounds.

Please read through the Greyhound Safe Website, use it, bookmark it and share it - it's there for you, to help the Greyhounds.

Be sure to continue to stay in touch with/subscribe to and share the Greyhound Safe Blog, which will be continued with to highlight campaigns you can lend your voice to - supporting the Greyhounds.

Feel free to use these 2 logos and share with the corresponding URL links:

                                               www.greyhoundsafe.com

                                           greyhoundsafe.blogspot.co.uk

Cabinet Meeting for Reading

A new Reading Borough Council Cabinet Meeting is to be held on Monday 16th July, with the future of greyhound racing at Reading on the agenda.

Despite the granting of planning for a combined greyhound/speedway track and casino, Gaming International/Stadia UK  have still(to date)not gone on site to commence building works at Island Rd, Reading.
Since the closure of Smallmead Stadium, in 2008, deadlines have gone on and on and granted permission for a different casino has further threatened Gaming International/Stadia UK's stumbling plans for their Racino.

A reply to a recent email sent to Reading Borough Council, asking for any details of concerning the greyhound/speedway stadium being on the Cabinet Meeting agenda, said:

'The report identifies that Gaming international/Stadia UK has not gone on site at island road and the report gives options as to how to proceed with the Council owned site at island road.'

The ambiguity of plans to build a new greyhound/speedway track in Reading since 2008, continues.

However, please take a moment to write polite emails to Reading Borough Council Cabinet.

Please raise their awareness and your concerns as to the plight of greyhounds, that thousands of greyhounds are bred and killed to sustain a gambling industry supported by a minority and in continued decline.

Email addresses(copy and paste into your 'to' box)

Mike.Orton@reading.gov.uk; rachel.eden@reading.gov.uk; Jo.Lovelock@reading.gov.uk;

Tony.Page@reading.gov.uk; Bet.Tickner@reading.gov.uk; Jan.Gavin@reading.gov.uk;

John.Ennis@reading.gov.uk; Marian.Livingston@reading.gov.uk; Paul.Gittings@reading.gov.uk

Bord na Mona Team Up With IGB

Bord na Mona, 'Ireland's leading environmentally responsible integrated utility service provider', have joined with the Irish Greyhound Board to sponsor a 'new competition' involving 48 greyhounds and ending on 31st August at Harrold's Cross.

A 'respectful' company such as Bord na Mona with 'a new contract with nature', 'who seek to offer more sustainable solutions to all who engage with' them, surely cannot know of the horror that is greyhound racing

- such as the horrors that came to light in April
- or the ongoing concerns regarding the thousands bred for the industry
- or the recent news where the 'ISPCA admits most greyhounds will be put to sleep'(see photo attached).

Bord na Mona, who's business activities 'will become increasingly sustainable from an environmental and social point of view', sponsoring a competition for a gambling industry, suffering with huge debts, which is sustained on the breeding and killing of thousands of greyhounds, seems like an unlikely union.

Please contact Bord na Mona with your polite concerns that they are sponsoring the Leinster Cup, please enlighten them to the abuses greyhounds endure to sustain the IGB. Ask them to consider withdrawing their sponsorship and to seek future investments into more ethical business that would reflect the image they create for their company.

Spanish Greyhound Track Re-Opens

Greyhound Rescue Holland brings alarming news that the Hippodrome Mijas, Costa del Sol, hosted greyhound racing on June 16th

Despite the horrific treatment of Galgos(Spanish Greyhound)which exists and is fought against by many groups daily - and despite the Strasbourg international demonstration on June 9th, where hundreds of people from various Galgo and Podenco campaign/rescue groups came together to speak out and highlight, on a mass scale, the plight of dogs used for hunting in Spain.

Director of the Hippodrome Mijas, Antonio Maldonado, and the pro-hunting Andalusian Federation of Greyhounds have drafted a proposal for the authorities of Andalusia to approve and make the betting on dog races legal.

Please take action given by Greyhound Rescue Holland to email a prepared letter to the Mayor of Mijas, Mr. Angel Nozal Lajo.
Please copy and paste the prepared letter and email to:
info@mijas.es
Or copy and paste into Mijas Town Hall email form.

                                             **IMPORTANT UPDATE**


Following the worrying news of the re-opening of Mijas Hippodrome for greyhound racing, please view a new alert for further action to take with Department of Agriculture, Sports and Junta of Andalusia.

Please also sign this petition calling the European Parliament for an end to Spanish greyhound torture, and this petition calling for the Spanish Prime Minister to strength Spain's animal protection laws.