Greyhounds:
Greyhounds are bred and used for the racing industry in Ireland. Dogs who are not fast enough for racing, or who incur injuries during racing are no longer profitable to the industry. Thousands of greyhounds go missing each year. Many are euthanised or shot. There are no figures on the numbers of greyhounds that are ‘disposed of’ in this way.
Greyhounds have a gentle, sensitive, affectionate and quiet disposition. They are laid-back ‘couch potatoes’ and make great family pets. Images of muzzled greyhounds at races give an inaccurate and false impression of these dogs. The muzzles are used to prevent potential bites or injuries – something which could result in financial loss to the owner (ie. a lost race).
- Greyhound Racing (from NARA website)
- “2,800 greyhounds born in 2021 now dead or unaccounted for” – Irish Examiner, 2024
- Videos:
- RTE Investigates – Greyhounds running for their lives
- Video from an animal rescue in Cork showing severe injuries and starvation in greyhounds who have been ‘dumped’ by their owners.
- Irish greyhound welfare groups:
- Compassion for Irish Greyhounds.
- Greyhound Rescue Association of Ireland.
- HUG – Homes for unwanted greyhounds.
- CAGED Nationwide – operates in UK and Ireland
Horses:
Horses are bred for racing and show jumping in Ireland. Injuries during a race are common and some are fatal. Horses deemed too slow for racing or who incur injuries during a race are no longer profitable to the industry. Many horses end up in slaughterhouses where they are used for meat.
- RTE Investigates – Horses: Making a Killing
- Horse Racing – from NARA.
- Horse racing – from Animal Aid.
- Irish Horse Welfare Trust
- Race Horse Deathwatch
- Horses and humans feel the same pain when whipped
- Panorama: The Dark Side of Horse Racing
- Over 1,000 racehorses died on Irish tracks in the past decade – RTE.ie
Zoos:
- Zoos – from Animal Aid
- We need to abolish all zoos says zoo owner Damien Aspinall
- Dublin zookeeper speaks out
Wild animals in circuses:
- Circuses – at Captive Animals Protection Society (CAPS)