Post by Admin on Sept 3, 2005 15:06:16 GMT
GREYHOUNDS sold at Limerick auctions have been found hanging from trees in Spain after their owners tortured them to death it was claimed today.
The greyhounds which are sold for as low as €100 to Spanish buyers in the city are allegedly used for racing and coursing by Spanish gypsies before they are tied to trees and left to slowly die inches above the ground.
Limerick Animal Welfare claimed Spanish dog trainers generally only buy female greyhounds as Spanish dog tracks are not suited to their male companions.
"They are sold by their owners or trainers in Limerick who find them useless. The tracks in Barcelona are smaller and have tighter bends so it is easier for the smaller female dogs to race there. Then they are then sold to Spanish gypsies who use them for coursing," said Marion Fitzgibbon of Limerick Animal Welfare.
The gypsies race the greyhounds in Medina del Campo - in Northern Spain it was claimed by the local animal welfare group.
"Medina del Campo is three hours north of Madrid. The dogs are extremely badly treated here and become severely infected - sometimes fatally. When the gypsies are finished with them, they hang them from the trees to die. If they are poor racing dogs, they are tied inches from the ground and left to die slowly - it is a fairly common occurrence in this area," said Ms Fitzgibbon.
This week, a seven-year-old greyhound named Creggane Duchess which was sold in Limerick was recovered in Valladolid. Irish greyhounds are identified by a tattoo behind their ears. An estimated 800 to 900 Irish greyhounds are in Spain at the moment.
"The knots of the rope left terrible wounds on her and she was also infested with ticks. She was bred in Nenagh and raced seven times in the Marketsfield, winning once. She was sold in 2001 - the owner did not realise she was sold to Spain," said a Limerick Animal Welfare spokesperson.
The local animal welfare group are now appealing to dog owners not to sell greyhounds to Spanish agents at auctions.
Source www.limerickanimalwelfare.com
Reporter: Barry Duggan
The greyhounds which are sold for as low as €100 to Spanish buyers in the city are allegedly used for racing and coursing by Spanish gypsies before they are tied to trees and left to slowly die inches above the ground.
Limerick Animal Welfare claimed Spanish dog trainers generally only buy female greyhounds as Spanish dog tracks are not suited to their male companions.
"They are sold by their owners or trainers in Limerick who find them useless. The tracks in Barcelona are smaller and have tighter bends so it is easier for the smaller female dogs to race there. Then they are then sold to Spanish gypsies who use them for coursing," said Marion Fitzgibbon of Limerick Animal Welfare.
The gypsies race the greyhounds in Medina del Campo - in Northern Spain it was claimed by the local animal welfare group.
"Medina del Campo is three hours north of Madrid. The dogs are extremely badly treated here and become severely infected - sometimes fatally. When the gypsies are finished with them, they hang them from the trees to die. If they are poor racing dogs, they are tied inches from the ground and left to die slowly - it is a fairly common occurrence in this area," said Ms Fitzgibbon.
This week, a seven-year-old greyhound named Creggane Duchess which was sold in Limerick was recovered in Valladolid. Irish greyhounds are identified by a tattoo behind their ears. An estimated 800 to 900 Irish greyhounds are in Spain at the moment.
"The knots of the rope left terrible wounds on her and she was also infested with ticks. She was bred in Nenagh and raced seven times in the Marketsfield, winning once. She was sold in 2001 - the owner did not realise she was sold to Spain," said a Limerick Animal Welfare spokesperson.
The local animal welfare group are now appealing to dog owners not to sell greyhounds to Spanish agents at auctions.
Source www.limerickanimalwelfare.com
Reporter: Barry Duggan