Remember the Limerick Greyhounds in Italy – Pet levrieri
In April 2012, a mass grave with the decomposed remains of a large number of greyhounds was found in Limerick, Ireland. This atrocity is not unusual in a country where thousands of greyhounds are eliminated each year by the greyhound racing industry because they don’t make the grade as racers or are too slow to generate profits via betting. There are no official numbers, but it is estimated that approximately 15,000-20,000 greyhounds are unaccounted for (presumed eliminated) each year between Ireland and the UK. These dogs usually spend most of the day either in kennels or cages, often muzzled. They are not allowed to play as puppies, and they may be gradually eliminated if they prove to be unsuitable for racing. Many are euthanised at the tracks following accidents which are often not fatal, others simply because they are too slow. The lucky ones die by lethal injection, others are eliminated by quicker and cheaper methods, such as a blow or a boltgun shot to the head, or thrown into the sea weighed down by a rock. Two years after the discovery of the Limerick mass grave, the only penalty for the slaughter of these dogs has been a paltry fine of a few hundred euros, which is hardly surprising, since in Ireland the industry is run by an organisation called the IGB, which in practice is answerable only to itself for its crimes, being self regulated. Even in this case, the racing industry has demonstrated yet again that it cannot change its nature, since it’s sole interest is in profit. We believe that dog racing is comparable to animal fighting, since it is the cause of huge suffering and death for the profit and entertainment of human beings. Dog racing should be abolished in all of Europe. Ireland is far away, but we too can do a lot to help. First of all by learning about and sharing information on what happens, because silence kills. If you go to Ireland you’ll notice that many people don’t know, and it’s time to tell the truth. There are Italians who go to Italy and bet on the dogs. We say they are complicit in perpetuating the suffering, and their bets support an immoral and cruel system. To remember, to protest, and to educate, on the 12th April vigils will be held in Limerick and in Manchester. We will be in Piazza San Babila in Milan from 5.00 pm onwards. Please join one of the vigils if you can, or light a candle at home in memory of the slaughtered greyhounds of Limerick. May they run free.Tags: adozione levrieri, Belle Vue Greyhound Stadium @en, CAGED northwest, Grey2K USA, greyhound, greyhounds, Greyt Exploitations, Limerick @en, Limerick Animal Welfare @en