Greyt Exploitations submitted a Freedom Of Information request to the university to ascertain the number of pups involved and the source of funding.

In their response, the university divulged some very sensitive information - clearly unaware of how damaging it would be for the greyhound racing industry.

In total 62 greyhounds were used at the university, 16 ‘donated’ by their owners but also a further 46 that had been destroyed by the track vet at Manchester’s Belle Vue stadium.

Tragically, of the 46 dogs destroyed at Belle Vue, 39 had sustained racing injuries, the vast majority minor but all were deemed ‘uneconomical’ to treat. Similarly, 7 dogs were deemed 'uneconomical' to re-home and as a consequence were also destroyed.

In just one month alone - September 2008 – Belle Vue supplied 9 cadavers to Liverpool University.

The research is part funded by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, who also gave a student vacation bursary of £1,200.

A further 4 greyhounds have recently been raced to deaths at Belle Vue. Happy Hawk, Liam Maldini, Blue Fern and Balreask Touch, all within the space of two weeks. And let us not forget Frisby Foreman who's fateful end was broadcast on live television from Belle Vue.

It is estimated at least 1,500 greyhounds sustain injuries annually on British tracks, resulting in destruction. However, this estimation does not include those young dogs forced to trial on unfamiliar tracks, where the injury rate is potentially far greater.

"This sorry state of affairs cannot continue. Dogs are being chewed up and spat out of an industry which ultimately treats greyhounds as disposable commodities, rather than sentient animals for which it is responsible." Becky Blackmore - RSPCA

You can visit Greyt Exploitations website to see the video they produced in response to this information

http://greytexploitations.com/resources-and-reports/dying-to-entertain-you

(Scroll down ... it's near the bottom of the page)

The three year old dog, called Balreask Touch, was in the lead in the ninth race of the evening, when he fell badly at the first bend.

He was carried from the track and later "put down" by a vet.

This latest death comes less than two weeks after three other greyhounds were killed at the track over a two day period.

Tony Peters, UK Co-ordinator for international greyhound protection group Greyhound Action said: "We are frequently informed about the deaths of greyhounds at Belle Vue by an official at the track, who has become sympathetic to our campaign, because he is sickened by the number of injuries to greyhounds that occur there.

"The serious injury to Balreask Touch, and the subsequent ending of his life, is just the latest incident in a catalogue of carnage associated with Belle Vue, which our local branch have dubbed the 'Stadium of Death'.

"Details obtained by greyhound protection campaigners under the Freedom of Information Act indicate that over 40 dogs are being 'put down' annually at the stadium after suffering injuries there.

"In addition, hundreds of other greyhounds, bred because of the demand created by Belle Vue, are put to death as puppies or young dogs, before they even make it to the track, after being judged unsuitable for racing.

"According to our most recent research, as many as 15,000 greyhounds, bred for the British racing industry, are 'put down' every year, after failing to make the grade as racers or when their 'careers' on the tracks come to an end.

"An RSPCA report on greyhound racing has stated that 'at least 20 greyhounds a day - either puppies which do not make the track, or retired dogs aged three or four - simply disappear, presumed killed'.

"Members of the public can help put an end to this horrific situation by not attending dog tracks or betting on greyhound racing, so this appalling industry fades away through lack of financial support.

"In response to this latest death at Belle Vue, our local branch have renewed their call for the closure of the dog track there and will be continuing with their demonstrations outside the stadium."

URGENT ACTION >>

Campaigners renew call for Manchester dog track closure
Please support them - especially this coming Saturday

The slaughter of greyhounds at Manchester's Belle Vue Stadium continues, with yet another dog
seriously injured and put to death there last Thursday evening ( 7th June ).

Greyhound Action North-West (GANW) are appealing for more help and support for their campaign to end
greyhound racing at the stadium.

The campaign has been so successful in reducing attendances at dog racing there, that Belle Vue has
now joined many other greyhound tracks in calling a halt to Tuesday night races.

The stadium has also had to make a number of staff members redundant because of financial problems
and has been forced to call off a special Fathers Day race meeting, owing to of lack of interest.

With Belle Vue in such a weak financial situation, now is the time to give increased support to this
campaign to totally close the dog track there.

GANW hold demos/leafletting sessions outside the stadium every Saturday evening, and sometimes
on week-nights too, but urgently need more volunteers to help keep these going.

So, if you live in or near the Manchester area and can get along to help outside Belle Vue, even if
only occasionally, please contact GANW at greyhoundactionnorthwest@hotmail.co.uk or on 07952 238592.

**It is especially important to give support to the demonstration this coming Saturday (20th June), as a local
TV station has indicated that they will be there to film the protest**

On Friday evening, a greyhound called Happy Hawk fell badly while racing and was carried from the track.

Then, during Saturday night's races, a greyhound called Blue Fern was seriously injured after colliding with another dog and, in the last race of the evening, another greyhound, Liam Maldini, was also badly hurt following a collision.

All three dogs were later "put down" by a veterinary surgeon, because of the extent of their injuries.

Tony Peters, UK Co-ordinator for international greyhound protection group Greyhound Action said: "We found out about the deaths of these dogs from an official at the track, who has become sympathetic to our campaign, because he is sickened by the number of injuries to greyhounds that occur there.

"He is not happy working at Belle Vue, but we have persuaded him to continue, at least for the time being, so he can provide us with information.

"The serious injuries to these three dogs, and the subsequent ending of their lives, are just the latest incidents in a catalogue of carnage associated with Belle Vue, which our local branch have dubbed the 'Stadium of Death'.

"Details obtained by greyhound protection campaigners under the Freedom of Information Act indicate that over 40 dogs are being 'put down' annually at the stadium after suffering injuries there.

"In addition, hundreds of other greyhounds, bred because of the demand created by Belle Vue, are put to death as puppies or young dogs, before they even make it to the track, after being judged unsuitable for racing.

"According to our most recent research, as many as 15,000 greyhounds, bred for the British racing industry, are 'put down' every year, after failing to make the grade as racers or when their 'careers' on the tracks come to an end.

"An RSPCA report on greyhound racing has stated that 'at least 20 greyhounds a day - either puppies which do not make the track, or retired dogs aged three or four - simply disappear, presumed killed'.

"Members of the public can help put an end to this horrific situation by not attending dog tracks or betting on greyhound racing, so this appalling industry fades away through lack of financial support.

"In response to these latest deaths at Belle Vue, our local branch have renewed their call for the closure of the dog track there and will be continuing with their demonstrations outside the stadium."

Please contact Greyhound Action North-West at greyhoundactionnorthwest@hotmail.co.uk or on 07952 238592, if you can help with the campaign to close the Belle Vue track.

Throughout February the racing industry bombarded the public with promotional gimmicks such as the ‘1p Meal Deal’ and the ‘£5 Credit Cruncher’ - televised nationally during peak viewing times and at great expense to the industry.

However, because of snow and icy conditions in early February many tracks were forced to close with a loss of 1000’s of attendances. In a desperate attempt to claw back the punters the racing industry then launched a national campaign and ‘Free Entry’ vouchers were printed in the Sun newspaper.

Despite this heavy media campaign to superficially boost attendances – Manchester’s Belle Vue stadium have announced they are to drop their midweek meeting and make at least six senior positions redundant. This will be a huge psychological blow to the industry, as Belle Vue is seen as the Jewel in the Crown of the five GRA owned stadiums.

Coral bookmakers, who own Romford and Hove stadiums have admitted that both stadiums are struggling and Kevin Wilde – head of stadia – who is attempting to address the situation has said ‘Were not talking tinkering with them either, they both need major surgery’.

If you'd like to help with the successful campaign against Belle Vue ... click here for more info about the campaign

Greyhound Action were inundated with complaints last week when a greyhound was seen crashing to the ground during a televised race at Belle Vue.

After making further enquiries Greyhound Action sadly discovered the young 2 year old greyhound, Frisby Foreman, was euthansed at the track rather than being afforded the expense of veterinary care.

To view the article and leave you comments please click here.

http://www.dogmagazine.net/archives/1086/shock-and-outrage-as-dog-fatally-injured-live-on-tv/

Please also spare a thought for Frisby Foreman who, despite earning thousands of pounds profit for the bookmakers during his short ‘career’ of only 13 races, was rewarded in his hour of need with a lethal injection.

Run Free Frisby Foreman

www.greytexploitations.com

“I’ve seen loads of dogs going there [just because they] have not turned out to be any good for racing.”

Greyhounds are the breed most likely to be summarily put down since they are seen as difficult to rehome and therefore of no profit to the owners, claim ex-employees of the sanctuary. Many greyhounds are brought by their owners or trainers when their racing careers are curtailed through lameness, age or lack of speed.

Most of these will specifically ask for their dogs to be put down. The sanctuary is happy to oblige with no questions asked. While killing dogs humanely, such as with lethal injections, is not illegal, trainers belonging to the National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) are required to put dogs down only as a last resort and then only under the supervision of a vet.

But according to former staff at the sanctuary, a vet was rarely present when dogs were killed. “The drill was for the dogs to be kept in an isolation block until they can be checked over by a vet but many greyhounds didn’t even make it that far, they just went straight to Block 8,” said a former employee who asked for her name to be withheld.

“It was the same with any dog which was considered to be ugly or otherwise unlikely to sell,” she said. “If anyone rang back later to ask about a dog we always said it had been rehomed rather than admit it had been put down. The sanctuary is run in a very commercially minded way.

“If it is something pedigree or attractive, it might sell to a member of the public for up to £250, which is a big profit.

“But dogs like greyhounds are considered a burden since they are thought to be difficult to rehome; so instead they just tend to put them down straight away.”

One trainer said: “They can take £35 for rehoming, put them to sleep and then they’ve got £35. They don’t have to feed the animal, they just put it to sleep. It’s money for old rope.”

A reporter posing as a greyhound owner contacted the sanctuary by telephone last week, seeking to have some greyhounds put down. After being told it was £35 per dog he asked if he needed to make an appointment.

Receptionist: “Just turn up any time.”

Reporter: “I’ve got three greyhounds [to put down], is that a problem?”

Receptionist: “No, that’s fine, you can bring them down any time . . . Just remember it’s £35 each.”

Two days later the reporter walked into the reception block and spoke to a member of staff named David. During a perfunctory exchange the reporter told David he had two young greyhounds to be brought in the next day that he wanted putting down because they were “past it”.

David, who declined to ask why he wanted them dead, charged the “trainer” £70 and gave him a receipt. The blue slip included the “trainer’s” name and address and telephone number, but no details about the dogs except that they were greyhounds.
David simply pencilled in the words “For P.T.S” [put to sleep] on the line headed “reason for rehoming”.

When asked if he would lie to the “trainer’s” wife if she called by telling her the dogs had been rehomed, David agreed he would.

All three former staff said dogs were put down by other employees rather than vets. One said: “The dogs would be injected in the chest because that was the quickest way, though vets usually put the needle in a vein in a paw.

“When the bodies were collected by a company to take them for cremation they would write down a figure only about half the actual number we were taking. I suppose that was to make it look as if they weren’t putting that many down.”

Yesterday Linda Buxton, 48, the woman in charge of the sanctuary, refused to comment.

Others are also seeking to speak to Buxton. Alistair McLean, chief executive of the NGRC, said: “Following the Seaham exposé we have had information about a number of places, one of which was Leigh Animal Sanctuary, and we are now investigating to identify those trainers using it.”

Trio banned

Three leading figures in greyhound racing have been banned from the sport for life following The Sunday Times’s exposure of the Seaham scandal.

At a stewards’ inquiry last week at the National Greyhound Racing Club, Gillian Young and her father Sid Fenwick, both licensed trainers, were “warned off” the sport, an effective ban. Young was fined £1,500 and Fenwick £1,000.

Both had been pictured in July delivering two young greyhounds to David Smith in Seaham, Co Durham, to be put down. Smith could face two years in prison and a £20,000 fine.

Young’s husband Graeme, an assistant track manager, also received a life ban and was fined £2,000. Trio banned

GA comment : This comes as no suprise (Click here for full story of a previous expose) we have known for years that 1000's of dogs were just disappearing after they "retired" from racing and 1000's more before they even got to the track ... deemed too slow to even bother training. It is great news to see that more and more of these secret killing fields are being discovered and the true callous and murderous nature of the greyhound racing industry is being revealed.

We also note with interest that 3 people have been banned for life by the racing authorities ... these are the 3 people who were caught in the Times' previous expose of the Seaham killing ground ... the particularly interesting point is that they were randomly caught because they just happened to bring dogs on the day when the newspaper was there ... if every trainer/owner who had had a dog killed at Seaham or similar places around the country was banned for life ... there wouldn't be many left to carry on racing.

Take Action: Please take the time to write or email your local paper about this ... we must keep the pressure on and keep the issue in peoples minds while it is still fresh. Today is the day to act!

"...............i bought my dog Eastwood in good faith from a chap i didn't know through a well known sporting paper,we sent him for his first trial around Belle Vue,he came out fine until the 3rd bend where he was gasping for breath,he got back to the stadium kennels and nearly collapsed.the vet brought him around and she said he is very ill,he needs a blood test,so a week later the result said he had heart worm,kidney infection,he was a week away from dying.now the bloke i bought him off just didnt want to know&he knows who he is!! he wouldnt give me anything for the vet bill or even worse couldnt be bothered!! anyway the dog was off a month.he graded on his 2nd trial still coughing slightly........."

Greyhound Action comment: Apart from the issue of people involved in greyhound racing selling dogs that are sick, the question has to be asked as to why Eastwood was being raced if he was a week away from death. He surely would have shown symptoms of his problems before his first trial. And why was he raced again while he was still coughing?

Greyhound left to waste away

The hunt is on for the owners of a former racing greyhound who let it waste away to less than half its normal weight. The emaciated animal was found wandering the streets of Baguley, Wythenshawe, on Friday and is now being cared for by the Manchester Dogs Home at Harpurhey.

The greyhound, which staff have named George, has distinctive "Irish marks" which show it was once a racer. These are the letters MEL on its left ear and the letters RP on its right.

Dogs Home manager Chris Lynch said it was the worst case they had seen for a long time. "The poor thing is just bones and I'm afraid in this state you've got to say that it's wilful abuse or neglect," she said. "We are working with Belle Vue to try to trace the person concerned from the markings on the dog but it could have had any number of owners since it stopped racing.'' She added: "We would urge anyone who has any idea who has let this dog get into this state to give us a call right away. "In the meantime he's got about five blankets on him and we're trying him on easily digestible food to build up his strength.