The Situation of Greyhounds in Ireland

Perhaps the most that can be said about the greyhound situation in Ireland is that it is currently in a state of flux. It certainly has moved forward from how it was ten and even five years ago, but there is still a lot of room for improvement. Ireland is unique in the world in terms of its "greyhound culture", and so tends to defy close comparison to any other country, including its near neighbour Great Britain. Although, for example, racing exists in both countries, how greyhounds are raced and the respective racing industries differ widely. In Ireland, the lack of a strong "pet culture" for dogs in general is also notable, as well as the negative reputation greyhounds have among the general population. To understand the greyhound problem in Ireland, then, one also needs to understand the background as well as relevant contemporary details

With a population of just over 4 million, and a historical background of centuries of profound poverty, including being the second-poorest country in Europe for several decades, the development of a significant "pet culture" has only begun to develop in recent years. Added to this the fledgling Irish government's encouragement of greyhound breeding to supplement their impoverished farmers' incomes over the decades, as well as the government significantly subsidising greyhound racing in general, and the stage was set for a rapid expansion of greyhound racing and breeding. For decades greyhound racing and coursing was largely "a man's sport", "the business of men", and the breeding, owning and racing of greyhounds quickly developed from being a past time for the landed English gentry to "everyman's sport". The greyhounds themselves became, of course, more objectified than ever before, and disposing of unwanted greyhounds was just not discussed or questioned. During this time greyhounds became considered to be livestock, different than other dogs, and certainly not fit to be companions for humans. This attitude still prevails among many people. As it became popular to make money from greyhounds, it was not unusual to find greyhounds in very poor condition, traumatised and abused in general. !!

In the late 1980s some individuals and rescue groups did begin to help greyhounds, but this was only possible on a case-by-case basis. By the 1990s there was some activity where small numbers of greyhounds were sent to an adoption program in the US, and the plight of greyhounds became more visible. As anti-racing groups formed in the UK, so an anti-racing sentiment formed in Ireland. However, since the breeding, raising and racing of greyhounds was so completely widespread - it seemed everyone had an uncle or a cousin who was involved in greyhounds -  the anti-racing component in Ireland never became particularly strong.

In recent years, at its peak, about 25,000 greyhounds a year were produced, a number only equalled in the US.  The difference, of course, is that Ireland, with only about 4 million people, compared to the US, with close to 300 million people, just does not have the critical mass necessary to adopt such large numbers of "leftover" greyhounds. About 18,000 greyhounds a year are adopted to homes annually in the US, while Ireland at most adopts perhaps 80 greyhounds to Irish homes. However, it is estimated that about 400 Irish greyhounds a year are adopted to homes in the UK, France, Italy, Sweden and a few other countries. With estimates of 14,000 Irish greyhounds a year "disappearing" off the radar, estimated adoptions of 480 still fall far short of the numbers needing homes!

There is a downward trend in the number of greyhounds produced every year, though not in the per cent of young greyhounds put down early in life, before reaching their first birthdays. Comparing 2008 with 2003, five years earlier, 3819 and 4827 litters were registered respectively. In both years, however, about 15% of the puppies were either put down or otherwise died young. This figure fluctuates from year to year, though remains within the range of 14-17%.

The industry has made some positive changes in recent years, and has an increased concern for reported cruelty cases, though many feel that this is not significant enough. Among the positive changes are some health requirements for greyhounds brought to industry-sponsored greyhound sales, unannounced inspections of bitches and their litters, and tighter demands on change of ownership. There has been some reaction to reported and verified cruelty cases, though the actual outcome of most of these cases is unknown. In very recent months a change of personnel and positions within the ICC and IGB has resulted in a previously non-existent agreement to cooperate together on such cases. Although this appears, for now, to exist in name only, hopefully it is the foundation for future co-operation. It is important to keep in mind that it was only as recently as about 5 years ago that the industry denied there was much neglect or cruelty and saw such cases as isolated incidents not warranting much action or comment. At this point in time, they encourage such cases to be reported, and have a full-time welfare manager, though of course the welfare manager's brief extends to prioritise track maintenance and other racing-greyhound concerns too.

In terms of greyhound adoption in Ireland, there are only a handful of rescue and adoption programs which take in greyhounds, and many rescues simply refuse to take in greyhounds at all. Some greyhounds in adoption programs are supported by the Irish Greyhound Board and others are not. Many rescue groups are completely unaware of some of the special medical and health needs of greyhounds, and this has resulted in unfortunate incidents. The plight of greyhound crosses, or lurchers, is widespread too, and there is no body which specifically supports these dogs. In recent years there has been some media attention for greyhounds, and this seems to have resulted in a general opening in terms of awareness.

People who race greyhounds seem to fall into two main categories, or groups, and generally the two do not mix nor encounter each other, partly due to how racing in Ireland is structured. There are those who see greyhounds as a serious investment, and spare no expense to ensure their "investment" is getting the best care and training. Some individuals and syndicates will make an effort to place the dog in an adoption program after their racing career is over, while others simply do nothing and let the trainer "take care of things". Most veterinarians dislike euthanising greyhounds which are young and healthy, but feel they have little choice, and it is better than the dog being abandoned or otherwise cruelly dispatched. There are also people who seem to have many greyhounds, race or breed them continuously, and provide less-than-adequate food and shelter, disposing of their dogs however they see fit. Often the most abused greyhounds can be traced back to such owners. Such people are part of a larger problem in Ireland regarding attitudes towards dogs in general; it is not only greyhounds which are abused and neglected. Some county pounds offer a special price and time during which greyhound owners can bring in their dogs to be put to sleep by a vet, and in some places it is not unusual to see a dozen or more owners lining up to get rid of their greyhounds. Although it is an improvement from abandoning the greyhounds, shooting them, or handing them over to irresponsible people, it is nevertheless a sad comment about so many people seeing them as disposable.

With increasing numbers of greyhounds being adopted in Ireland, and awareness of animal welfare in general becoming more widespread, there may be better times yet for Ireland's greyhounds. Whether racing will ever end in Ireland is anyone's guess, as the anti-racing  impetus will have to come from within, and sentiment against racing will have to be quite high. In the meantime, improving the general quality of life of these hounds in terms of care and shelter is paramount.