lurcherdan Posted March 2, 2008 Report Share Posted March 2, 2008 Sighthound Welfare Trust has just been informed about this. Please spread far and wide: Vets’ secret trade in dog body parts A clinic is killing healthy dogs and secretly selling their body parts to Britain’s most prestigious veterinary college for research, an investigation has found. The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has a financial agreement with a vet’s practice which provides the organs from dogs on a regular basis. An undercover reporter posing as an owner found that staff at the Greyhound Clinic in Essex agreed to kill greyhounds for £30 each even though he told them the dogs had “nothing wrong with themâ€. The clinic is then paid by the college, which specifically insists the dogs must be healthy before being euthanased, for each animal from which it supplies parts. The RVC, which is the oldest and largest veterinary college in Britain, admitted that it had a number of similar financial agreements with other clinics to provide specimens. The practice has “horrified†the RSPCA and animal welfare campaigners and even one of the heads of the greyhound racing industry itself. The sport has been criticised for failing to explain the fate of thousands of greyhounds which retire from racing each year and then disappear without trace. Alistair McLean, chief executive of the National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC), the industry’s governing body, said he was “flabbergasted†by the trade in body parts. “This is completely and utterly unacceptable,†he said. “It is quite scandalous.†The RSPCA said: “We are shocked by this evidence which appears to show an opening for greyhounds to be systematically destroyed for profit. We certainly would not like to think that there was a financial incentive to ending a pet’s life.†Maureen Purvis, of the campaign group Greyhounds UK, compared the practice with that of Burke and Hare, the19th century bodysnatchers who killed people to provide corpses for dissection. “What this clinic is doing is the canine equivalent of that,†she said. “It is just absolute butchery.†Although the rules governing vets allow them to use their discretion on putting down healthy animals, in practice most are reluctant to do so. The NGRC states that its trainers should put dogs down only as a last resort. “Even a broken leg can often be mended but some trainers see it as simply more cost effective to have it put down,†said a racing insider. It is now apparent, however, that some veterinary practices also have a financial incentive to put dogs down without any medical reason. The Greyhound Clinic is in an Essex hamlet which is in effect a “greyhound villageâ€. The clinic’s immediate neighbours are the kennels of at least six NGRC-registered trainers, two greyhound retirement homes and a practice racetrack. The undercover reporter called the clinic and spoke to Donna Atkins, the practice manager, saying he had two greyhounds he wanted putting down because he “had no room for themâ€. The reporter asked if the clinic ever took blood from the dogs before killing them and Atkins said the Royal Veterinary College sent people once or twice a week to collect blood from dogs being put down, she said. When the reporter called back, Atkins said: “We are going to take the glands as well. Is that okay?†The reporter said it was, but emphasised that his dogs were not old and there was nothing wrong with them. “That’s fair enough; that’s not a problem,†said Atkins. “So it’s 10.15 tomorrow. Bye.†When the reporter arrived the next day, two students from the RVC, who introduced themselves as Demi and Rick, were waiting. The reporter, who said his dogs would arrive shortly with his brother, explained there was “nothing wrong with them†but the students appeared uninterested. Asked why they wanted the dogs’s lymph glands, Demi said: “We take tissue from healthy dogs and we look at the cells and put them in an artificial environment and use that to further our research.†The reporter left but not before paying Atkins £60 in advance to have the fictitious dogs put down. He was not asked to sign any forms and was at no time asked his name, phone number, address or any details as to why the dogs should be destroyed. He also asked Atkins if the RVC was paying the clinic to take body parts. “No, no, we work in conjunction with them. We all work together from all over the place. It’s part of their learning,†she said. John O’Connor, 65, head vet and director of the clinic, told the undercover reporter, who was now posing as an employee of a company wanting to procure canine organs, that he had an “exclusive†commercial contract with the RVC until November. After that he would review the situation and expected “at least £30 per canine partâ€. When contacted later by The Sunday Times O’Connor initially denied a financial agreement with the RVC but subsequently admitted invoicing the college at £10 per dog and being paid. He claimed that he had been paid a few hundred pounds since he began supplying the parts three years ago and that he intended to pay the money to charity. O’Connor said he put down dogs only if they had medical problems or showed aggression and said he would not have euthanased the fictitious dogs. An RVC spokesman confirmed it had an agreement with the clinic but said owners should be issued with a form “to indicate their acknowledgment†of their pets’ fate. “The decision to euthanase an animal must only be taken when both owner and vet agree and the owner has given written consent.†http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3466712.ece Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kats n greys Posted March 2, 2008 Report Share Posted March 2, 2008 Again. Poor bloody greyhounds are abused by an authority that should be offering them some protection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ailsas mum Posted March 2, 2008 Report Share Posted March 2, 2008 F.F.S. these poor bloody dogs . Terri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merledogs Posted March 2, 2008 Report Share Posted March 2, 2008 That vet should be struck off It's high time the greyhound racing industry was regulated, they are obviously not capable of self regulation. I shall be writing to my MP again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redditchlady Posted March 2, 2008 Report Share Posted March 2, 2008 Utterly disgusting. *That's the polite version* Have cross posted. Kazz xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flukespad Posted March 2, 2008 Report Share Posted March 2, 2008 Words fail me and the RVC well !!!! Have x posted as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudi Posted March 2, 2008 Report Share Posted March 2, 2008 That's just beyond any comprehension - the vet should be struck off but he probably won't be because there's not external regulation of the RCVS. The RVC also needs it's backside kicking. We need research because we want our pets lives saving when they get ill but why not set up a donor scheme as we have for humans rather than kill healthy animals and why do greyhounds always seem to get the sh*tty end of the stick It's beyond me that the industry is allowed to continue when there is so much evidence of cruelty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happylittlegreensquirrel Posted March 2, 2008 Report Share Posted March 2, 2008 Daniel Foggo is the same reporter who exposed the Seaham greyhound killings , http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article688422.ece Although I am horrified to read his latest article I am pleased both he and the Sunday Times are continuing to look at the fate of Greyhounds and publicising the truth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houndzrus Posted March 2, 2008 Report Share Posted March 2, 2008 Although I am horrified to read his latest article I am pleased both he and the Sunday Times are continuing to look at the fate of Greyhounds and publicising the truth Me too, I hope it gets stopped now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abigailj Posted March 2, 2008 Report Share Posted March 2, 2008 I'm really pleased this has been exposed but I can't say I am suprised by it. A few years ago, one of ours was being vaccinated by a new vet, who commented that greyhounds had often been used when she was at vet college. I think some people will try to justify it by saying that they are providing a service, and asking what would happen to the unwanted dogs if they didn't put them down. Fair question I suppose, but regardless of that this situation still demonstrates that there is surplus of greyhounds caused by the racing industry and these dogs are not living a luxury retirement at home on a big settee. Personally I can't understand why the NGRC are 'flabbergasted'. Where do they think all of these unwanted dogs go? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celeste Posted March 2, 2008 Report Share Posted March 2, 2008 I think of all dog breeds Greys always seem to get the worst deal from humans ( along with bull breeds) What would have happened to these dogs tho' if they hadn't been pts ? considering all the horrific things that owners will do to try and get rid of surplus to requirement dogs, they have probably gotten off lightly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackthelab Posted March 2, 2008 Report Share Posted March 2, 2008 OMG!! That was our old vets before we moved, John O Connor is/was a very well known and respected vet amongst the greyhound people there, he was brilliant with all the dogs and was recommended by everyone in the area!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiona711 Posted March 2, 2008 Report Share Posted March 2, 2008 Oh oh , i dont think my views will be appreciated but just look at the amount of greyhounds that are dumped every year simple because they wont race for one reason or another , how many times have we seen the pics of these gentle dogs dumped with their ears cut off so they cant be identified ? Left to die a slow lingering death , burned, hanged , shot poisoned etc etc Greyhound racing sadly is a multi million pound industry which we all know should be held accountable for all the poor dogs bred to support that industy then dumped when they dont make the grade In an ideal world then no healthy animal would be put to sleep but sadly we dont live in an ideal world and as much as i hate to say it at least these dogs are put to sleep humanely , and sadly as much as i hate to think about it research of this kind can be useful in the world of vet medicine i do agree however that vets should not profit from this and i have to admit to being skeptical when in the article John O’Connor, 65, head vet and director of the clinic says that he had been paid a few hundred pounds since he began supplying the parts three years ago and that he was going to donate the money to charity call me cynical but why did'nt he do just that then instead of waiting until this has hit the news three years later ? A sad day indeed when a vet seems to be so misguided in his views , however maybe he thinks he is doing the right thing for the future of vet medicine ? My cynical side does have to wonder about the payments involved but i do always try to see things from both sides , which is not always a good thing i know. Fiona xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ranirottie Posted March 2, 2008 Report Share Posted March 2, 2008 I am going to be very controversial here too and say what I think. There are thousands of healthy greyhounds killed every year and a lot of them are cruelly killed. The trainers/owners will not pay for them to be humanely destroyed so they drown them, hang them, dump them in remote places to freeze and starve, poison them and I could go on and on! At least these poor things are humanely destroyed and they go on to provide a useful service (sorry thats the only wayI could think to put it). If our dogs get ill, we want the vets to make them better. If they cant we want them sent to a specialist and unfortunately to aquire the knowledge they do need to do tests and experiments on animal parts. I do find this state horrendous but mostly terribly sad, but I can see that the whole thing is necessary. That is not to say that I think putting healthy dogs to sleep is not a disgusting state of affairs but just that if they are to be pts that it is done kindly and then they can help other dogs.I hope I explained it properly x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greyhound pal Posted March 3, 2008 Report Share Posted March 3, 2008 If our dogs get ill, we want the vets to make them better. If they cant we want them sent to a specialist and unfortunately to aquire the knowledge they do need to do tests and experiments on animal parts. I do find this state horrendous but mostly terribly sad, but I can see that the whole thing is necessary. That is not to say that I think putting healthy dogs to sleep is not a disgusting state of affairs but just that if they are to be pts that it is done kindly and then they can help other dogs.I hope I explained it properly x I think I do see what you mean although I really don't agree with it. Lots of reasons why its not acceptable practice. I'm of the mindset that there is no 'acceptable practice' for any greyhound to be destroyed in the name of "sport". I'd rather they weren't bred in the first place. There is the money issue which others have picked up on. These are healthy dogs who are exploited for money until they stop winning. These are vets who you hope feel that destroying a healthy dog would be morally wrong enough without getting them additionally doing that final bit of exploitation. Its wrong. Makes me wonder that if any other breed of dog was being used in this manner - say strays from pounds with the local authorities getting the money, would this be any less acceptable? Or is it just the sheer numbers of greyhounds which means they might as well be used for something useful? Lets face it, there's never going to be enough homes for each greyhound who "retires" from racing... Still can't possibly agree. Its morally wrong and just another way of disposing of the hound and I don't think I'll ever accept anything as acceptable disposal method. My chain of thought is that to agree to this would also be accepting the likes of David Smith's practices - its not the method of death or what happens afterwards thats so bad, its the fact its happening in the first place. Whats worse for me since I heard this news was breaking was that for years this practice has been a 'rumour'. Like Seaham, for years the NGRC have categorically denied this. They'll undoubtedly do a PR cover-up now and ban a trainer or two (or vet) and it will be back to business as usual. 'Scuse the ramblings - I should be in bed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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