Why are you so rough on greyhound lovers like me?

IN REPLY to Niamh Walsh’s article (MoS October 6), it is about time someone stood up for our greyhound industry, instead of constantly having to read and watch derogatory reports.

Ms Walsh writes as if she knows all about our greyhound industry, while I reckon she, along with Shane Ross, only watched the damning RTÉ documentary, Greyhounds Running For Their Lives. From this one-hour programme she and Mr Ross, and indeed Fáilte Ireland, concluded the WHOLE industry is corrupt and greyhounds are mistreated throughout Ireland. Let me set straight a few of the mistruths aired on this programme.

The figure of ‘6,000’ greyhounds killed every year has to be rejected. This figure has included dogs which have not raced in a period of time (put down as deceased), pups born in Ireland and sold onto Britain before being named (recorded deceased), any old or retired dogs which have not been rehomed through the Irish Greyhound Board, many of which are kept as pets or rehomed through other means. Numbers were also based on litter sizes of six living pups, while many litters are smaller. My last three litters were 3/3/5.

Many other inaccuracies occur in the documentary. It showed very old footage of animal cruelty in China, while the percentage of greyhounds travelling to China is minuscule. Also old footage was used of Mullingar greyhound track showing dogs falling at the first bend. It was easy to spot that this was old VHS footage. The track has had work done to make it safer for all dogs. I would also question where your journalist got her figure of 86% of the Irish population opposing greyhound racing? Does that leave only 14% of us trainers, greyhound owners, staff at all tracks, benefactors from numerous charity fundraisers and of course Leo Varadkar making up the supporters of the industry?

Sensational reporting can be very harmful with little regard given to the 12,000 or so directly or indirectly employed by the sector. The (boring) reality is that most greyhounds are really well cared for, exercised daily, groomed, teeth cleaned, dosed, fed an excellent diet daily and above all respected and LOVED. If only the same could be said for every animal in Ireland (and perhaps humans)!

Catherine Kerr (greyhound trainer), Co. Monaghan.