China in your Hands

national | miscellaneous | press release Saturday June 04, 2011 11:29 by GRAI - Greyhound Rescue Association of Ireland pawsanimalrescue at eircom dot net 0529153507

Walk for Greyhounds

Irish greyhounds and dogs of all breeds with their owners will be meeting in Dublin City Centre on Sunday June 19th for the first “Walk for the Greyhounds”, which has been organised to promote greyhounds as family pets.
Hundreds of two legged and four legged walkers are expected from all over Ireland, the UK, and other European countries. Walkers will meet at 12 noon, near the Fusilliers Arch at St Stehen’s Green. The walk which will start at 1pm is just over two kilometres through the centre of Dublin.

Poster for walk

News Release
For immediate release
04.06.11.
Greyhounds go for a walk – in Dublin City Centre
Irish greyhounds and dogs of all breeds with their owners will be meeting in Dublin City Centre on Sunday June 19th for the first “Walk for the Greyhounds”, which has been organised to promote greyhounds as family pets.
Hundreds of two legged and four legged walkers are expected from all over Ireland, the UK, and other European countries. Walkers will meet at 12 noon, near the Fusilliers Arch at St Stehen’s Green. The walk which will start at 1pm is just over two kilometres through the centre of Dublin.

The Walk has been organised by the Greyhound Rescue Association of Ireland (GRAI). GRAI, is made up of thirteen Irish charities involved in rescuing and re-homing former racing greyhounds.

A spokesperson for the Association said:

“The walk was prompted by the Irish Greyhound Board plans to support the development of greyhound racing in China. We believe that they should concentrate on addressing the serious greyhound welfare problems that exist here rather than promoting racing in a country with a notoriously poor record on animal welfare.

“This peaceful walk is a much needed “first” for Ireland. All over the World, people are aware that greyhounds make wonderful family pets. In Ireland too we know there are many owners of racing greyhounds who love their dogs and who take good care of them when they retire. However, far too often they are treated as a commodity with thousands discarded or destroyed every year, when they are no longer able to win races.

“Last year over 650 were destroyed in Irish council pounds alone, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. Hundreds of other greyhounds are disposed of by their owners or simply given away thoughtlessly to people who may later abandon them. Large numbers of puppies and

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Greyhounds to walk in Dublin City Centre, continued…….
young greyhounds bred for racing also just “disappear” before they ever see a race-track because they are too slow or do not have chase instinct.

“If it were Labradors or King Charles Spaniels meeting their deaths in their thousands there would be a public outcry and so there should be over greyhounds.

“By walking through our capital city with rescued greyhounds alongside other much loved
family pets we want to make the point that greyhounds are sentient creatures too who deserve a life when they retire from racing. Greyhounds are very gentle, good with children, generally get on well with other dogs, and they make wonderful family pets.

We hope that hundreds of dog lovers will join in and create an unforgettable event that will drive home the message that greyhounds deserve a life after racing.”

“The walk is attracting a great deal of interest. Already several groups from Europe and the UK have said they will attend to show solidarity with the Irish greyhounds and we are expecting to hear very soon from a number of major celebrities, saying that they support the walk.”

Ends
For more information please contact:
Gina Hetherington Tel: 08791 04345 [email protected]
Or: [email protected]
EDITORS NOTES
GRAI
GRAI was established in February 2011. It brings together 13 welfare organisations based in Ireland who actively rescue, rehabilitate and re-home former racing greyhounds once their racing days are over.
GRAI members are: Animal Heaven Animal Rescue, Avalon Greyhound Sanctuary, Clare Animal Welfare, Cottage Rescue, Dog Action Welfare Group Cork, Dundalk Rescue, Dungarvan Rescue, Erin Hounds, Greyhound Hut, Kerry Greyhound Connection, Limerick Animal Welfare, Orchard Greyhound Sanctuary, PAWS Animal Rescue.
Greyhounds destroyed in Irish Municipal Pounds
In 2010 statistics were published for the first time that identified how many greyhounds were euthanased in Irish Pounds. 672 greyhounds were destroyed from a total number for 5267 dogs of all kinds. This means that every 10th dog being destroyed in an Irish municipal pound is a greyhound. (Source: Dog control statistics 2010 www.environ.ie/en/LocalGovernment/DogControl )
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Greyhounds to walk in Dublin City Centre, continued…….

Greyhounds as pets
Greyhounds are widely recognised as making excellent family pets in most European countries shattering many myths about the breed. The attractions of greyhounds as a family pet include:
• They do not need huge amounts of exercise: two 20 minute walks a day and a short gallop to stretch their legs will keep them happy.
• Greyhounds are generally good with children.
• Greyhounds are lazy, comfort loving dogs: they love nothing better than a good sleep on a comfortable bed. They are a quiet presence in a family house.
• Their short coat and dislike of mud and rain means they do not make a lot of mess around the house.

A retired Greyhound living in Italy