Fact sheet 1:

YOU BET THEY DIE...

The shady background of the greyhound racing industry.

Fact sheet 2:

Measuring the Massacre

Just how many dogs are put to death by the greyhound racing industry.

Fact sheet 3:

Greyhounds as companion animals

A practical guide.

Fact sheet 4:

Greyhound Racing in the USA

The situation in the USA

Fact sheet 6:

The Importance of publicity

Practical Info

Fact sheet 7:

Some typical examples of cruelty in the greyhound racing industry

Case Studies

Fact sheet 5:

Hare Coursing

!!! ILLEGAL IN THE UK SINCE 18/02/05 !!!

A brief look at our concerns and the links between coursing and racing.

Greyhound Action is opposed to coursing, not only because of the cruelty to and killing of hares caused by the activity, but also because of the injuries to greyhounds which occur and the fact that greyhounds are not infrequently abandoned or killed when considered no longer good enough for coursing.

Injuries to coursing greyhounds are relatively common, due to the fact that they are racing on a field, rather than a smoother sand surface, and that they frequently change direction rapidly as the hare tries to escape. For more info...

www.dgrescue.org.uk/aboutgreys.htm

It's not unknown for ex-racing greyhounds to move over to coursing and there is also some crossover with track greyhounds simultaneously going coursing and vice versa.However, generally speaking the dogs are separate, as coursing dogs need to be bigger and heavier than track dogs.

For more info on this, the article at www.greyhoundrescue... mentions greyhounds coming out of coursing being abandoned etc. as well as those coming out of racing.

www.greyhoundrescue.co.uk/news/telegraph22012000.htm

The other major link between coursing and racing is that the National Coursing Club manages the Greyhound Stud Book with which all racing (& coursing) greyhounds must be registered - and in Ireland (where the majority of greyhounds that race in the UK are bred), the registration of racing greyhounds is in the hands of the Irish Coursing Club.

This factsheet is intended as a brief overview of coursing and the welfare problems associated with it. For more indepth information - try the following links.

http://www.league.uk.com/cruel_sports/british_wildlife/hare/hare_coursing.htm

http://hsa.enviroweb.org/hsa.shtml

The connection between Greyhound Racing and Coursing in there own words

Below is a copy of a fax sent by the National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) as their submission to the Burns Inquiry into hunting with hounds.

This clearly shows the link between the greyhound racing industry and coursing - and the support of one for the other.

Of course, the suffering of hares that are torn to pieces or of greyhounds that are injured is not mentioned. No mention either of the fate of greyhounds used for coursing when they are no longer able to compete successfully on the coursing field.

Note also the attempt to prevent publicity regarding the submission.

National Greyhound Racing Club Limited (By guarantee)

Twyman House 16 Bonny Street London NW1 9QD

Telephone (020) 7267 9256 Fax (0201)7482 1023

email: ngrc@clara.net

Senior Steward: J H C Nicholson

Chief Executive: Frank Melville

Registered in England No, 1041132

21 February 2000

By Fax

Dear Sirs The Burns Inquiry - "Hunting with Dogs" - Effect of a Ban on Coursing

It is appropriate for me, as Senior Steward, to preface this submission by stating that it must be acknowledged that within the sport of NGRC licensed racing there is a constituency of opinion which does not support the sport of coursing. Furthermore, I must request that this submission should not be distributed through the internet or like media. That being said, this submission contends that an abolition of coursing (which is NOT "hunting with dogs" because killing the hare is not the object) would materially affect the greyhound breed, not only in terms of conformation but also attitude.

The anatomical structure of a greyhound is unique in its muscular structure. Others will advise on the history of the breeding of the greyhound - but one aspect of additional concern must be one of mental attitude for this unique canine chasing, as it does, only by sight and sound.

Athletic proficiency in any sport depends upon a competitive mental attitude, and the will to accept challenge which, in a greyhound, is largely achieved by breeding. Aggression, is not tolerated in British track racing but a high level of endeavour is vital and it is this characteristic which, inter alia, would be imperilled.

The breeding of track racing greyhounds is long since influenced by use of successful coursing dogs. Such dogs not only have the appropriate attitude but also the best physical conformation as coursing is demonstrably a testing athletic trial for a dog.

The dogs have to turn and accelerate in a manner which demands physical power of high order. Any risk of degradation of the greyhound specie as we know it today is unacceptable - it is currently difficult enough to 'breed out' from the famous and well established blood lines in order to try and improve on what has been created over the centuries.

Track racing as we know it today has only been in existence for some 70 years, during which time the racing stock has become lighter and more compact; the reason being, tracks have become smaller with tighter bends. But the breed depends greatly on good coursing blood for consistently high athletic ability. It, therefore, becomes of pre-eminent importance that its mental and physical strength, intelligence, and fortitude should not become deteriorated by a detrimental breeding environment.

Yours faithfully John H C Nicholson Senior Steward

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