Group in Britain Falsely Claim Sanctuary for Greyhounds: Behind Scene, Killing Healthy Dogs for Money

The disgusting truth of Greyhound racing has no geographic boundaries. This is common place in every country that carries out Greyhound racing.

For more on the truth behind Greyhound racing see http://www.hsus.org/pets/issues_affecting_our_pets/running_
for_their_lives_the_realities_of_greyhound_racing/greyhound_
racing_facts.html


Article:

Greyhound sanctuary 'targeted by activists'

http://www.stv.tv/

Bosses at an animal sanctuary accused of killing healthy greyhounds have revealed they were the victims of animal rights activists.

Staff at the Leigh Animal Sanctuary in Greater Manchester, said they had been threatened at home and at work and received abusive phone calls and letters.

The claims came after a newspaper report alleged workers had offered to destroy two healthy young greyhounds by lethal injection for £70.

Unnamed greyhound trainers told the paper the sanctuary was well-known within the sport and had been offering the service for many years.

But in a statement bosses at the sanctuary, which was set up in 1975, said they only put animals to sleep when there was "no viable alternative".

They also announced they would no longer be accepting unwanted greyhounds due to the "extreme" threats from animal rights activists.

A spokesman for the centre said: "The most hurtful allegation made against us is that this act is carried out on a whim.

"As people who have dedicated our lives to animal welfare, I can categorically state that ending an animal's life has only ever been undertaken by Leigh Animal Sanctuary when every other avenue has been explored and there is no viable alternative."

The spokesman claimed activists had launched a "cowardly and malicious" campaign against the centre.

He added: "This has been happening for some time now and is perpetrated by people claiming to be animal rights activists, who conveniently ignore the fact that literally thousands of animals have been saved and re-homed as a direct result of the work we do."

RSPCA veterinary spokesman Steve Cheetham said the greyhound industry needed to "clean up its act".

He said: "This is totally unnecessary slaughter. There is no justification for killing these animals simply because they can't do their job.

"Animals should be their owner's responsibility for life, not just until they reach the end of their usefulness.

"This is a sad reflection on the greyhound racing industry which should be cleaning up its act."

The National Greyhound Racing Club has launched an investigation into the problem following the newspaper revelations.

NGRC Senior Steward, Edward Bentall said: "The rules of racing are very clear for all to see that every effort must be made to re-home and avoid the euthanasia of greyhounds, which in any case must be carried out by a registered veterinary surgeon.

"Any person who is unable to abide by the basic rules for greyhound welfare is not welcome in NGRC racing".