IRISH SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
OPENING STATEMENT TO THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE FOOD
AND THE MARINE
REGARDING ‘THE HEADS OF THE GREYHOUND INDUSTRY BILL’
9th MAY 2017
Dr Andrew Kelly, Chief Executive Officer
Conor Dowling, Chief Inspector
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ISPCA Opening Statement
1. Introduction
The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is widely recognised national
animal welfare organisation. Founded in 1949, the ISPCA has been providing frontline
animal welfare services for over 65 years and is the umbrella organisation for 19 local SPCAs
across Ireland.
The ISPCA is an animal welfare organisation, not an animal rights organisation. Our mission
is to prevent cruelty and promote kindness to animals.
ISPCA policies are evidence based and ethically sound.
2. ISPCA Inspectorate
The ISPCA has a team of eight uniformed Inspectors currently covering 17 counties. As part
of our Five Year Strategic Framework we intend to increase the number of Inspectors to be
able to cover the entire country.
Our eight Inspectors, represented today by Chief Inspector Conor Dowling, have been
Authorised Officers under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, since May 2014 via a
Service Agreement with the Minister under section 74 of the Act. As a result our Inspectors
have statutory powers to enter land and inspect animals, to seize and detain animals if they
believe an offence has been committed and to issue enforceable Animal Welfare Notices.
There are some exemptions to our authorisation which are listed in our Written Submission.
It is relevant to state here that the ISPCA do not exercise a function under the AHWA 2013
with respect to: A greyhound racing establishment operated by the Irish Greyhound Board or
a greyhound breeding establishment within the meaning of the Welfare of Greyhounds Act
2011.
Since becoming Authorised Officers in May 2014, ISPCA Inspectors have initiated over 70
prosecutions under the AHWA 2013, 28 of which have been finalised in court (8 in 2017 to
date).
3. ISPCA Animal Welfare Policies
The ISPCA has developed a number of policies in relation the use of animals in sport or
entertainment. Those relevant to the welfare aspects of coursing and greyhound racing are listed
below.
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The ISPCA is opposed to the use of animals in sport or for entertainment when such
use is contrary to the animals' nature, or may involve suffering or may adversely
affect the animals' welfare.

The Society is concerned that certain sports require the breeding of large numbers
of animals in order to select the fastest, strongest etc., thereby giving rise to a large
surplus population which is perceived as valueless, and either killed or disposed of
with little or no consideration for their welfare, and believes that there is a strong
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duty of responsibility on the regulatory authorities of such sports to (1) control the
size of this surplus and (2) ensure that it is disposed of humanely.
4. ISPCA concerns about the greyhound industry
The ISPCA has concerns about the welfare of dogs that are injured or that are disposed of
inhumanely once they have become valueless to their owner. We also believe that the greyhound
industry should have a retirement plan in place for ALL greyhounds that have reached the end of
their racing lives. The ISPCA also believes that the greyhound industry should take full responsibility
for disposal of unwanted dogs, whether that is euthanasia or the full costs of rehoming unwanted
dogs. The ‘polluter pays’ principle should be applied and the full costs of the over production of
greyhounds should be borne by the industry. The burden not passed on to animal rescue
organisations who by comparison to the greyhound industry get much less assistance from
government (in 2016, the greyhound industry received circa €16 million, compared to 137 animal
welfare organisations who received €2.4 million between them). The over production of greyhounds
must be addressed. In Britain, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain has significantly reduced the
number of do0gs being produced (from 10,000 to 1,000). Importantly more than 95% of these go on
to race showing that quality is better than quality.
Between 2010 and 2015, 3410 greyhounds entered Irish dog pounds, 75% of which were
surrendered specifically for euthanasia. In other words the tax payer paying for cheap ‘waste’
disposal and absolving the industry of their responsibilities. The numbers being euthanased in Irish
dog pounds has reduced from 672 in 2010 to 204 in 2015. Whilst we welcome the reduction in the
numbers being euthanased (the result of more dogs being signed over to rescue organisations who
the bear the burden of costs of rehoming), we are still concerned about the large number of dogs
being disposed of. The data also does not include those dogs euthanased at private veterinary
practices. This culture within the industry of it being acceptable to dispose of large numbers of dogs
when they are no longer wanted must change. It does not help the industry’s case when a former
IGB chairperson (Paschal Taggart) just last week was asked by a radio presenter if he believed it was
acceptable for large numbers of dogs to be killed as the result of ‘entertainment’, he replied
“Absolutely I do”.
5. Heads of the Greyhound Industry Bill 2017
The ISPCA comments on the Heads of the Greyhounds Industry Bill have been detailed in our written
submission. Whilst we welcome the new Bill, we have a number of concerns and comments which
are summarised here:
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The ISPCA is concerned about the apparent move away from criminal sanctions for
breaching the rules of greyhound racing towards administrative sanctions. (Head 2).
ISPCA Inspectors are authorised under the AHWA but not the Welfare of
Greyhounds Act 2011, and the reverse is true for IGB staff authorised under the
Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011. This results in limitation is certain scenarios which
needs to be addressed. (Head 2).
Changing the name of Bord na gCon to Greyhound Racing Ireland will not change its
public image. This will require a significant cultural change, openness, transparency
and accountability (particularly in relation to the ‘waste product’. (Head 6)
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Any person that has been convicted of an animal welfare offence or any offence
related to greyhound racing or hare coursing should be excluded from serving on the
Board. (Head 7).
Criminal proceedings and full exclusion orders must be an option in doping cases.
The maximum number of litters allowed should be no more than five.
The ISPCA would like to see a white list of countries to which Irish greyhounds could
be exported to under license (to prevent any further attempt to export greyhounds
to countries with no or little animal welfare provision).
Injury statistics must be published in the spirit of openness and transparency.
It should be an offence to fail to comply with an Improvement Notice issued by an
authorised officer under the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011.
END
Andrew Kelly, Chief Executive Officer
Conor Dowling, Chief Inspector
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