*The Story of Image*
It now seems a good time to tell Image’s story, after 'Prime Time' documented where the "two sides" of Greyhound Racing. The Industry side (GRI) and Animal Rescues.
Image is the third tattooed greyhound to come through our doors in the last few months as strays off the streets, as well as those we take from owners. She was found wandering the streets, alone and scared, underweight, full of fleas and worms. Image was found cowering in the doorway of Aldi, Ballinasloe. Two weeks earlier we collected Mirror from near the bog in Ballinasloe and the third girl Valise was found running on the streets near Roscommon with a male Saluki. All were Tattooed and chipped.
Those who watched Primetime will have heard the greyhound racing industry go on about traceability, as one of the most important and improved aspects, but we and many other rescues beg to differ.
Three tattooed Greyhounds on the streets with the inevitable blue rope round their necks, in just one area of Ireland? None were flagged as lost or missing when we checked their tattoos with the Studbook or when we logged the chips into our name. So, where is the supposed traceability and responsibility from the Industry for these dogs ?
The only reason they know where they are now is from posts like these or when we are obliged to contact ICC to get their information and then they are super quickly marked up on their system as "rehomed as a pet" which "looks" great but realistically means that the GRI have no idea where that dog actually is or with whom. Yes, they are rehomed as pets as Image is now is, and as all those Greyhounds who have come into our care are, but not by the Industry that has a duty of care to these dogs. But by animal charities such as ours.
Their system is a joke and the only thing it serves to protect is the Industry itself and not the Dogs.
