Ben Bradshaw/ Defra

[kelli]

cant work out scan so gonna type

 

please excuse errors & typos -

 

Thank you for your letter of 24 July enclosing a copy of an e-mail from your constituent Ms K Windebank of ************* Hertfordshire about the welfare of retired racing greyhounds.

 

I can assure you that we share your constituents concerns on the allegations in the press of the killing of a large number of retired racing greyhounds. The Sunday Times have forwarded us their dossier of evidence on this particular case, which we are currently considering. We are, of course, unable to commment at this stage whether any offences may have been committed.

 

We have called upon the National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) - the organisation which sets and administers welfare standards for those tracjs and owner/trainers who race under NRGC rules - to investigate the allegations made in the press. The Associate Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare (APGAW) - an all-party parliamentary group made up of MPs, Peers and associate animal welfare organisations - has also launched its own investigation into the allegations. We welcome this seperate enquiry and will certainly wish to consider any recommendations APGAW makes.

 

On the possibilty of introducing a ban on greyhound racing, while I am aware of concerns about the welfare of greyhounds both during and after their racing life, I do not beleibe these problems are insurmountable. None of the main animal welfare oranisations haveapproached Defra proposing an outright ban on the sport and I do not believe one is necessary to secure greyhound welfare.

 

On the issue of the number of greyhounds retiring from racing each year there is very little reliable evidence on the fate of greyounds on retirement. The NGRC requires a;; dogs racing under their rules to be properly rehomed or humanely destroyed by a vetinary surgeon, but it is difficult to moniter those dogs once they are outside the NGRC juriddiction and of course many dogs do not race under NRGC rules. Ultimately, the welfare of greyhounds during and after their racing career is the responsibility of the owners and trainers themselves. However welfare organisations and the racing industry have worked together in recent years ina n effort to improve the number of retired greyhounds who are rehomed. The racing industry has increased considerably the finacial support that it provides for the welfare of retired greyhounds. Funding for greyhound welfare is channelled through the British Greyhound Fund, which is funded by the industry including the betting industry. In 2005 grants relating to welfare totalled £2.5M, including £1.3M to the RGT in 2000 funding from the industry for the RGT was £240,000. There are now more than 60 RGT Branches from Jersey to the Isle of Skye.

 

The British Greyhound Racing board is also working with other canine welfare organisations to examine what is happening to retired greyhounds and is committed to addressing any problems identified. All of its publicity material informs prospective greyhound owners that they are responsibel for them in their retired life.

 

A Welfare Executive employed by the NRGC works with the RGT by helping enforce its welfare rules - especially by stressing to owners the prime responsibility in finding their retired greyhounds new homes.

 

It is already an offence under the Protection of Animals Act 1911 to destroy an animal in a manner that will cause it unnesarry suffering and will continue to be so under the Animal Welfare Bill. In addition, the Bill, currently before Pariament, will introduce an offence of afailing to provide for the welfare needs of the animal. This will apply to all owners of all animals, including racing an retired greyhounds, and will raise welfare standards througbout the dogs lives.

 

~The Bill also provides powers to introduce secondary legislation to regulate animal related activities. We are considering making specific regulations under the Animal Welfare Bill in relation to the Welfare of retired racing greyhounds.

 

Defra has set up a working group to examine the issue of greyhound welfare. The group has been asked to offer advice to ministers and officials in the drafting odf regulations to improve greyhound we;fare. Members of the group representatives of the welfare organisations, the racing indusrty, local authorities, the developed administrations and Defra.

 

While this group has yet to make any recommendations, our preferance is that whenever possible welfare standards should be regulated by the industry. Althgough we recognisethat industry self-regulation may not be an option for those tracks that are not operating under that aegis of the NRGC I can assure you that we would not recommend any system of self regulation unless it can be commended to parliament as a system that is open and auditable, with the standards set & the effectivness of the enforces monitered by central government. This is a key issue clearly one which the working group will want to address in its recommendations. There will also be a full public consulation on our proposals before approval by parliament.

 

with best wishes

 

~Ben Bradshaw