The Meridiana greyhound racing track dismisses it's 54 employees after the rise in betting rates.

The Meridiana greyhound racing track, the last remaining in Spain, has introduced an Employment Regulation Expedient (ERE) to dismiss it's entire roster of employees, made up of 54 permanent workers, in view of the increase in betting rates from 3 to 10% attributed by the Generalitat, which makes the industry unfeasible.

The Meridiana greyhound racing track, who manage the long standing grounds, owes the Catalan government 1.68 million euros in arrears and interest in rates payments, according to Pedro Sierra the administration chief of the Social, Cultural and Sports Committee of the Federation of UGT Services of Catalunya.

The last greyhound races took place yesterday and from now on only a dozen workers will continue in their placements to sell the dogs and carry out the minimal tasks of maintaining the track.

The company, who finished the last financial year with losses and whose profits reduced some 4% in 2004, has negotiated in recent months with the Generalitat, the possible suspension of the increase in rates, which should have commenced at the start of 2003.

Meridiana race track is offering the employees a redundancy payment of 20 days per year worked, the legal minimum, even though it is voluntarily negotiating with the UGT and CC.OO trade unions.

Greyhound Action Comment: readers with a long memory may remember that the gangster Al Capone was also finally caught and jailed due to problems over taxation :-)

SPANISH ATTEND LIMERICK SALES MAY 2005

On May 10th 2005 Limerick Animal Welfare workers attended the Limerick Greyhound Sales, this is what they found...

This was a terrible experience for us. The owners of the dogs had no problem selling their dogs to the Spanish. They were aware of the living hell that lay ahead for their dogs in Spain but they did not care. We watched as these beautiful dogs were being loaded on a terrible transporter to begin the long torturous journey to Spain. They were hot, thirsty,hungry, nowhere to sit, unable to stand properly and hidden from view.

Photo above shows young bitch being loaded onto transporter. She did not want to go and was pulled with great force with a lead and put on the transporter. The conditions were atrocious and to think these unfortunate greyhounds had to endure a journey of at least 1,200km depending on the route. We believe these dogs went from the Limerick track to Dublin then the ferry Dublin to Holyhead, England. From there south to Dover and then the ferry from Dover to Calais, France. Then the long journey through France, over the Pyrenees and down into Spain. Then their life's as racing greyhounds at the Meridiana Track begins. The ISPCA and RSPCA followed the transporter and driver from Ireland to Barcelona in 2003. The entire trip was observed and complaints documented and filed with the authorities. Their was no response and this man and his transporter are fully licensed to take greyhounds from Ireland to Spain by the Irish Department of Agriculture. This transporter allows two greyhounds to a crate muzzled. The water bowl is tiny and the muzzles do not allow easy access to the tiny water bowl that must be shared by two dogs.

The stress of loading two dogs to a crate is enormous. The greyhounds are terrified.

Photo's above show greyhounds terrified being forced onto the transporter. One was literally thrown in on top of the other. The crates measure 70cms high. The greyhounds measure approx 70cms high to their shoulders, and therefore could not stand to their natural height. In the compartments shared by two dogs the measurements meant that only one dog could sit down at a time. It was difficult to take photos as we were threatened at regular intervals and told our cars would be burned and we could be shot. The canvas cover was pulled down over the cages as we approached.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE GREYHOUNDS IN SPAIN?

The Spanish buyers regularly attend the Limerick Greyhound Sales to purchase greyhounds to race at The Meridiana Track. They need 800 bitches to run their show in Barcelona because they have a minimum of 11 race meetings weekly plus more on feast days. At each meeting, there are 15 races of 6 dogs meaning they need 70 dogs at each meeting. Dogs run about once every 2-3 days.They need so many races because the money they make is so poor , they make up for it by running the dogs into the ground.

The dogs are kenneled in the Santa Coloma complex in Barcelona. This has been called a dog concentration camp. The Irish greyhounds begin to suffer the day the Spanish buy them, and suffer for the rest of their life's unless they are lucky enough to be released to a rescue organisation. In 1997 the ISPCA and RSPCA visited the Meridiana Track and the Santa Coloma Kennels. An excerpt from their findings is as follows: "Approximately 900 greyhounds were forced to spend 21 hours in terrible kennels with no air conditioning.Greyhounds were infested with parasites and nursing open sores. Greyhounds were administered substances such as amphetamines, caffeine, anabolic steroids and cocaine.

Greyhounds were forced to sleep on hard concrete with no bedding. Greyhounds showed a high level of hair loss, urine scalding and skin irritation. Many dogs were lame and carrying injuries. Many dogs had open wounds which were not attended to. We have documented evidence from England, which proves that conditions were still the same in August 2003. An excerpt from the report states, "many greyhounds are dirty and bald.Signs of musculoskeletal wear and tear are apparent as the dogs walk stiffly, as if their hips and joints cannot bend without pain. We have documented evidence and photographic reports from Belgium that conditions were just as bad in October 2004,

which supports our claim that Irish Greyhounds racing today at Meridiana and forced to live at the Santa Coloma Kennels are being subjected to unbearable cruelty.

We appeal to Irish Greyhound owners and breeders to ensure that their greyhounds are not sold for the spanish trade.

Photos above show a beautiful greyhound. As can be clearly seen from photo on left her leg is very swollen, most likely caused by anabolic steroids. Her teeth are rotten and loose. This dog would have been in severe pain, sadly and to all our shame she is just one of many Irish dogs suffering in Spain. We cannot forget them. Limerick Animal Welfare plan to hold a candlelit vigil. It will be held in memory of all the Irish greyhounds who have died in our own country and in Spain because of mans greed. As the candles burn we will offer hope to the Irish greyhounds that maybe one day soon the Irish Government will change the laws which permit this suffering to take place. We hope that Greyhound owners and breeders will stop selling their dogs for the Spanish Trade.We will never forget these dogs.

On 16 February an Irish greyhound (female) was found on the streets of Valladolid (half an hour from the Scooby shelter). She was found with a rope around her neck and a lot of ticks. The tattoos are: right ear - UR / left ear - RUH. Having traced her earmark her name is Creggane Duchess (her picture is attached).

Contact has been made with the former owner of Creggane Duchess in Ireland and he was genuinely upset to hear that his greyhound had ended up in Spain. It seems he is an elderly man who has retired from racing and his dogs remained with the trainer, who would have made the decision to sell on. The former owner was concerned about the condition of the greyhound and wants to be kept informed of her progress.

The fact this greyhound was found in a coursing area lends credence to the notion that greyhounds are passed on to the hunters once they have finished racing at the track in Barcelona. This is also the result of a complete lack of regulations in Ireland making owners and breeders accountable for their dogs. It also illustrates that ownership/transfer records are not kept up to date.

It is a cause for concern that greyhounds can be passed between owners without official transfer of ownership/registration. This is not a requirement in Ireland and, therefore, owners who pass their dogs on irresponsibly cannot be penalised. Measures should be implementrd to prevent the irresponsible transfer of greyhounds.

If you would like to write to the Irish Coursing Club (the greyhound registration body in Ireland) and the Irish Greyhound Board (Bord na gCon) to urge them to enforce regulations which make owners and breeders accountable for their greyhounds, the contact details are below.

Irish Coursing Club

Davis Road

Clonmel

Ireland

Bord na gCon

Limerick

Ireland

Website: http://www.igb.ie

Email: admin@igb.ie

Galgos

On 25 February Scooby took in a galgo with a broken back (a victim of a car accident). However, the x-ray of the injury also revealed three small bullets in his body. Sadly, nothing could be done for him, so he was peacefully euthanased.

On the same day a very frightened galgo (not uncommon) was rescued using a donated humane dog trap. He is now safe and sound at Scooby.

Open letter from Anne Finch

14th August 2003

To whom it may concern
A letter to all those with an interest in the Meridiana Greyhound track, (Canódromo Meridiana), Concepción Arenal, 165, Barcelona, 08027, Spain
I write as Trustee and Founder of the above Charity, a voluntary body totally reliant on public donations, to outline my conclusions reached following 12 years of work on behalf of the greyhounds and galgos of Spain and as an immediate result of 4 visits, 10-13th August 2003 to this one remaining Spanish dog track in Barcelona.

Background.

Racing greyhounds round an oval track with gambling began in Spain in the 1930’s along with UK, Ireland, USA and Australia, as working men settled in the cities and sought entertainment. It proliferated into the 1970’s in Spain when there were 18 tracks, until the end of the 70’s when the new democracy heralded other gambling possibilities with a gradual decline in interest in track racing. In 1991, when I first went to Spain, there were just 4 tracks remaining. Thanks to the decreasing financial returns, other opportunities presenting themselves for land development, and not least to ours’ and others’ efforts spreading greater awareness of the conditions under which these dogs lived and raced, now only one track remains in Spain.

Current situation

The Canódromo Meridiana imports its dogs from Ireland; in the last year approximately 250 mainly poor quality bitches @ ca.150? per dog. 750-800 greyhounds in 8 owner/trainers’ blocks are housed in non-airconditioned kennels at carretera Roca Km5 in Santa Coloma de Gramenet a suburb of Barcelona. The required space per dog (by Catalunian law, 2sq m) is being infringed. One block is currently being restructured to conform to the new law, which will reduce its capacity by at least half. The gates to he kennels are always locked with a guard in place, following a series of adverse reports internationally years ago when Uk and Irish welfare persons and the press on different occasions had access, reported on and photographed what they saw. Likewise, taking photos now of the dogs at the track even when not racing, is also prohibited. There are routinely 11 race meetings per week, with additional meetings on Feast days, and trials (non-public races to re-grade or eliminate non-gradable dogs) on Wednesdays. There are 10-16 races of 6-8 dogs per meeting, Hence roughly 1000 dogs run every week meaning that, given the need for a percentage of dogs to be resting from injury or being off colour, each dog is racing 2-3 times per week. (In UK and Ireland, due to the stress of this activity, greyhounds race on average only 3-5 times per month). Distances vary from 310-425m with 5-8 bends,(calculated the English way)from the start boxes to the ‘pick up,’ rendering a very tight curvature increasing the risk of injury as they lean inwards to negotiate the bends. (Similar lengths of races in the UK or Ireland only have 3-4 bends, as the ‘straights’ are longer, i.e. the tracks are more oval). The dogs are 2-7yrs old. (In the Uk, retirement takes place at 4 yrs old when they are no longer deemed fit for such a stressful activity). These bitches do not rest during oestrus or their lactation period. (In Uk, it is obligatory for bitches to rest for 21 days during oestrus and if indicated, during their ‘lactation’ period due to the increased elasticity of their ligaments and joints with reduced calcium levels at this time causing muscular tears and bony fractures).

Hence it is clear that the greyhounds racing at Meridiana are already stressed and overstretched before we even begin to describe the extreme climate, the kennels themselves, transportation and the absence of veterinary control and care.

Further Hazards

Temperatures in Barcelona are extreme. This summer they have reached 44C and in winter can drop to -2C (below zero). Race meetings in UK have been cancelled this summer due to the heat in Uk which has not reached temperatures constantly experienced in Barcelona. Not so in Barcelona. Most days, there is racing at the track from 11.00am to 21.00 with barely three hours’ break at lunchtime. That does not take into account the van journeys to and from Santa Coloma 7-8 kms away on the outskirts of the city twice per day, which on most days mean loading and unloading 164 dogs at the track and again at the kennels into two vehicles without air conditioning or heating. Such exercises add greatly to the amount of time that the dogs must stay in a dangerously hot vehicle. Furthermore, the journeys, round lunchtime in the the working week, coincide with traffic congestion, putting the dogs even more at risk. The cages in the two trucks(each carrying 50-60 dogs) are in tiers and so narrow and short that the feet of the dogs hang pathetically outside, of which all of us have pictures, as they are the only photos we can take unobserved from outside the track. Except for a modicum of thin carpeting in some of the Santa Coloma kennels, there is no bedding (e.g. shredded paper) in the truck or the racing kennels to serve as insulation or hygienic material ensuring dryness and providing protection for a greyhound’s very thin skin, bony prominences and painful joints. Water for the dogs, the athletic performers of the show, barely features, while the handlers help themselves every few minutes from the hosepipes. The total lack of immediate aftercare in the racing kennels such as the routine cleaning of sand from the eyes, feet and nail beds with careful re-hydration later when the exertion of racing has passed and the dog has stopped panting and can drink, all the above points I believe do not contribute to the good health or performance of the dog and are tantamount to a flouting of its basic necessities.

The Role of the Veterinarian

In the UK and elsewhere, a veterinarian is appointed by the track to inspect each dog before and after racing to examine its movements when trotting and to check for any signs of malfunction or disease. Dogs are weighed on arrival at the track and sometimes again just before racing to ensure metabolic stability as an object of fair gambling. The veterinarian has the power to withdraw a dog or even to insist on the cancellation of a meeting due to inclement weather or other reason. He should watch carefully the dogs’ movements while racing, making note of any problems, knocks or incidents and observe them come off the track and make recommendations to the trainer.

At Meridiana, the veterinarian plays no visible role. Whether he is present or not has always been a mystery; certainly visitors are not introduced to him. There is no sign of a vet working in the racing kennels or by the trackside. The conclusion here is surely that Spanish greyhound racing does not accept the role that should be played by the veterinarian, maybe because the consequences could be catastrophic for the track.

Other questions of care

In medicine, we have a saying that the skin reflects the health of body and soul. If applied to the dogs at Meridiana, the conclusions verge on being a disgrace. Many dogs are dirty and bald not only over the back of their thighs where greyhounds do commonly have thin hair, but the alopecia extends laterally, under the belly, up under the throat, neck and on to the face and ears. This is apparent not just in the old dogs but in the 2 year olds. Possible causes could be stress, harsh kennelling surfaces, lying in urine, autoimmune disease, internal or external parasites, the use of corticosteroids or dermodectic or sarcoptic mange or the Mediterranean disease, Leishmania. Signs of musculoskeletal wear and tear are apparent as the dogs walk stiffly, as if their hips and joints cannot bend without pain. One dog was screaming as she was running round the track until she finally slowed up to a standstill half way round. Punters near me explained she had a shoulder injury/ fracture so it was well known that she was not fit, but this dog can only have wanted to run if the pain was masked by drugs, strictly forbidden in other countries in dogs who are racing. Drug testing at all race meetings, whether done on every dog or at random, is an essential part of greyhound racing in other countries, not only as a welfare matter but to preserve and demonstrate the integrity of the sport and to protect the punter. This does not take place at Meridiana.

The racing muzzles worn by the dogs appear to be too restrictive for effective panting which cools a dog. Mostly they are wearing size 4-5 muzzles used elsewhere only for especially small bitches. In Uk the usual muzzle size for a bitch is a 6 (or 6x if more depth is required) and for a male dog sizes 7 or 8, 7x or 8x.

Historical Note

During these last twelve years, I have tried personally very hard to empathise, respect, understand and educate by working alongside the men in the kennels, to donate goods and materials, generate and share resources and manpower with the tracks in Spain and to take retired and unwanted dogs into homes abroad (5000 to date). One major effort which took me two years to research and create, (1994-6) was a two hour video in Spanish entitled ‘El Cuidado del Galgo de Carreras’ (‘The Care of the Racing Greyhound’) with information for trainers, promoters, handlers and vets in the utmost detail on the care of the racing greyhound from cradle to grave and how to carry out this sport correctly. 1000 copies of this video were distributed free to employees at the four tracks in Spain and it is still available. I have discussed at length and issued reports of my visits to Spain to Spanish, British, and Irish racing officials with copies to the major welfare groups. I ask myself what it has achieved except numerous ‘inspections’, lists of recommendations, which are not carried out, and visits on Derby Days and others designed to show the best that the track can do but which do not represent the day-to-day work during the rest of the year.

Conclusion

I have come to accept now sadly that nothing here is going to change. Attitudes are such that new ideas, investment, modernisation, the results of specialised studies, and mostly consideration for the welfare of the animal in Spain are unlikely ever to play a part in greyhound racing in that country. Spain is a member of the World Greyhound Racing Federation together with members from the UK, Ireland, Morocco, Sweden, Macao, South Africa, USA and Australia. However, the greyhound racing board of the Republic of Ireland(the Bord na gCon), in 1999, issued a statement disassociating itself from involvement in the exports of dogs to Spain, and in 2001, withdrew membership from the WGRF on grounds of their disapproval of the way racing is done by one of its members, Spain. Furthermore, the British Greyhound Racing Board, and the racing boards of Victoria, Australia and St. Petersburg, Florida have also withdrawn this year for the same reason. These days when greyhound racing globally is under threat on grounds of welfare, when ease of communications and travel bring us all so much closer together, when libraries of books, seminars, conferences and racing magazines all discuss racing greyhounds and their care, no self respecting professional track or member of the WGRF can plead ignorance that they do not know how a healthy racing dog should look or perform or how greyhound racing should be done. In the wake of the allegations made by the ISPCA and RSPCA regarding the inhumane transportation on 26/28th June this year of new imported dogs from Ireland to Barcelona which seriously compromises the future supply of dogs to the track, I ask those who are in a position of influence as regards the track in Spain, to consider whether the Meridiana track does have a future representing greyhound racing in Spain. It angers not only animal lovers but disgraces the very sport itself dragging down those in the industry who comply with regulations and invest skill and effort to make it more acceptable and more sensitive to the needs of the animals involved. My opinion now is that talking about improvements in Barcelona is senseless procrastination, prolonging the suffering and deferring the débâcle.

This represents my personal point of view and is written without prompting or input from other welfare groups whom I know are unhappy too about the track and who I hope share my feelings. We all know and love this breed of dog and work tirelessly for its welfare. The greyhound, so often subjected to mistreatment, never seeks revenge and instead repays those responsible with trust, courage and service until his dying day to carry out what is expected of him. The lowest form of immorality is to take advantage of this quality.

I would like to add however that the management of the track have always been polite and welcoming. What comes to mind so loudly to me is the English saying: ‘there are none so blind as those that will not see’.

Yours sincerely,

Anne Finch

This letter, in Spanish and English, aims to reach and elicit a responses from the Catalunian Department of the Environment, the Irish and other Racing authorities and also the media who may not fully understand the background in this matter, hence its length and explanations in places.

Referring to the transport to and from the Track MERIDIANA inBarcelona and general about the GH in the last track in Spain:

PRO-GALGO has received this year allready 20 Greyhounds from the last remaining track in Barcelona. They have been brought to our rescue centre in Vic, near Barcelona directly by their owners and we picked-up at the track on Wednesdays during the morning training. All GH were homed in Belgium and Germany.

Some of the GH came more or less OK looking from the track but most of them had several uncured fractures on toes and ankles, horrible teeth problems and 9 of them were positive on microfilarias. Not one dog came with a correct vaccination booklet, actualy not one dog came with a vaccination booklet at all!

SOSGALGOS, PRO-GALGO and many other rescue groups are fighting to make the race dogs lives better and our final goal is to close the lastremainig track in Spain. The small kennels, the lousy ventilation and the horrible heat in the summer plus the cold humid weather in the winter is one of the reasons why we are against the inhumane racing activities for the poor greyhounds.

We are in touch with the local government to make sure that all, but all dogs from the track will have to stay in Catalonia until rehomed because it is the only way to proove on long therms the poor health of the dogs. The race track preferes to bring them out of Catalonia because this way the dogs are away from the eyes of local animal welfare organisations and this way the track can hide the poor state the dogs are in.

I have seen myself dogs at the track that had injuries before the race and have not been excluded fromt the start. A german TV Show filmed with a hidden cam and what they showed on SAT1 made many people cray. THe fliming took place last november and early this year.

The catalonian animal protection laws are the best in Spain and that is another reason why the track brings the dogs outside of the state of Catalonia because they know very well that their dogs are not kept in acceptable conditions and the pictures on this links show some it:

This is how the kennels look from outside. Look at the small windows and the construction. To hot in the summer, freezing in the winter. No room to walk the dogs!

In these boxes the dogs wait before the race, inside the track:

In this truck the dogs are moved from and to the track...

The kennels are too short for the dogs and to sit down they have to let the paws hang out. The kennels are so small that many dogs an not turn around!!!

The startbox:

The race:

More Info on this track: Click here