Ireland Will Not Sell Greyhounds to China
An Animal Rights Article from All-Creatures.org

FROM

Animal People News
July 2011

Irish greyhounds could not be exported legally, as no welfare agreement exists between Ireland and China. Gambling on dogs and horses, it appears, is still not legal in China, so this ill-conceived cruel money-grubbing idea was a no-go from that respect also.

Irish racing greyhounds will not soon be exported to China, Irish agriculture minister Shane McEntee told the Dail [Irish parliament] on May 3, 2011, but the announcement did not end the efforts of greyhound racing opponents to deter Irish investment in trying to develop a Chinese greyhound racing industry.

McEntee, a member of the Fine Gael majority, responded to a question asked from the Dail floor by Labour Party member Joe Costello. Asking if McEntee would allow the export of greyhounds to China, Costello noted that China “has no animal welfare legislation and no regulation, supervision or mechanism for protecting such animals. There is no ban on killing dogs there,” Costello emphasized, “and we are all aware that some dogs are eaten. Obviously there is considerable scope for abuse.”

Responded McEntee, “Today I met the chair and chief executive of Bord na gCon,” the Irish greyhound board, “and made clear that I am not in a position to approve the project as presented. It was agreed,” McEntee said, “that Bord na gCon would modify its proposal to exclude the export of greyhounds from Ireland, but would continue to explore developing the proposal to assist in the management of greyhound racing in China.”

Assessed Bernie Wright of Grey-hound Action Ireland, “Irish greyhounds could not be exported legally, as no welfare agreement exists between Ireland and China. Gambling on dogs and horses, it appears, is still not legal in China, so this ill-conceived cruel money-grubbing idea was a no-go from that respect also.”

However, e-mailed Greyhound Crusaders/South West Animal Protection UK, “This vital campaign is far from over, as the Irish greyhound board are now insisting that they will help to set up five greyhound stadiums in China. Where will the greyhounds come from? All countries that export greyhounds please be on the alert!”

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