Animal welfare charities express concern over planned greyhound racing at Towcester despite extreme temperatures
The leading animal welfare organisations behind the 'Cut the Chase' coalition are disappointed and concerned that this weekend’s planned greyhound racing at Towcester Racecourse is still going ahead, despite temperatures set to rise above 25°C.
Dogs Trust, RSPCA, Blue Cross, Hope Rescue and Greyhound Rescue Wales have all expressed concerns for the welfare of the dogs involved in this weekend’s racing, as experts advise that exercising dogs in warm weather can be fatal.
Dogs can’t regulate their body heat in the same way as humans, so extra care needs to be taken in hot weather, and if dogs are too hot and can’t sufficiently manage their body temperature, they may develop heatstroke which can be fatal. While most of us know that leaving dogs in hot cars is incredibly dangerous, one study found that almost three quarters of heat related illnesses in dogs were actually exercise related.
Symptoms of heatstroke in dogs include panting heavily, drooling excessively, appearing lethargic, drowsy or uncoordinated, vomiting and / or diarrhoea and collapsing.
This week, stats released by GBGB, the organisation responsible for licencing greyhound tracks in the UK, show that 244 dogs died or were put to sleep due to their participation in greyhound racing over the last year, and there were 4,354 injuries. This is on top of the almost 2,000 dogs that have died or have been put to sleep over the previous four years.
Dogs Trust, RSPCA, Blue Cross, Hope Rescue and Greyhound Rescue Wales have issued the following joint comment:
“Heat stroke in dogs can be fatal which is why every year we remind owners around the county not to exercise their dogs in warm weather. As the temperatures continue to rise in parts of the country, the mercury is expected to reach at least 25°C around Towcester Racecourse this weekend; this is far too hot for dogs to be running at speed around tracks.
“This week, GBGB, the organisation responsible for licencing tracks in Great Britain, claims to have made significant improvements to the welfare of greyhounds and yet it continues to ignore the advice of experienced veterinary professionals when it comes to racing in these extreme weather conditions.
“We call on all dog owners and dog lovers to keep their dogs out of the heat this weekend, and to avoid exercising them until the temperatures drop down to below 21°C. Skipping a walk or a run won’t do them any harm; exercising them in extreme temperatures will.”
Last year, Dogs Trust, RSPCA and Blue Cross announced their joint call for greyhound racing to come to an end as soon as possible to put a stop to the unnecessary and completely preventable deaths greyhounds. This echoes the calls of other welfare organisations, including Hope Rescue and Greyhound Rescue Wales.
Working together as the Cut the Chase Coalition, Dogs Trust, the RSPCA, Blue Cross, Hope Rescue and Greyhound Rescue Wales have worked with the greyhound racing industry for many years to try to improve conditions for the dogs involved in the sport. While this has led to some improvements, there are still significant welfare issues for racing greyhounds which have not been resolved and cannot be resolved.
The racing taking place at Towcester Racecourse this weekend is the semi-final heats of the Greyhound Derby, with the final set to take place on 1 July.