RUN FOR YOUR LIFE Call for greyhound crackdown

THOUSANDS of greyhounds are being culled when their racing careers end, the League Against Cruel Sports has warned.

The charity is calling for an outright ban on greyhound racing, after saying its calls to tighten rules were ignored.

They claim racing dogs spend 95 per cent of their time in cramped cages, with many constantly muzzled and distressed. Thousands are killed, neglected or “disposed of” every year when they are no use, it is claimed.

Eduardo Gonçalves, CEO for the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “Current regulations are totally inadequate and don’t protect the welfare of racing dogs.

“There is a culture of secrecy and cruelty which continues because the Government has continuously allowed the industry to regulate itself.

“There is no viable alternative but to call for this archaic practice of racing animals for sport to be phased out.”

The charity fears poorly maintained tracks and frequent racing leaves many dogs with broken backs and shattered OUR vet Brian Faulkner, from Petplan, has 16 years of experience and is a freelance working all over the country. Send your questions to Brian at: Petplan, Great West House, Great West Road, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 9DX or via Petplan’s Facebook page facebook.com/ PetplanUK. limbs. Its officers accuse the industry of not doing enough to prevent drug abuse, illness, dental problems, fleas and malnutrition.

Every year, 10,000 dogs are taken out of racing – 8,000 to retire, 2,000 considered not good enough to race. Charities rehome as many as they can.

Eduardo said: “If you love dogs but go to dog racing you need to wake up. At the race track, money is king and the dogs are nothing but a commodity to be used and disposed of.”

Racing i s regulated by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain but the league have asked the Government for a crackdown.

They want to see injury records published and a database where every dog would be registered from birth to death. But these were not put in place.

A GBGB spokesman said: “The Government said last year when reviewing regulations it did not believe greyhound racing was inherently cruel. Every year two million people enjoy it and is the sixth most popular spectator sport. People are entitled to enjoy a legal, well-regulated sport.” MY German shepherd fell awkwardly catching a ball and the vet says he’s damaged his cruciate ligament. What is the best treatment?

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