The Evening Chronicle buying into torture

[*Lizzie*]

The Evening Chronicle, a local Newcastle newspaper, have announced that they have 'signed up' and intend to race a young female greyhound, Give Me Sunshine, to try and raise money for the newspaper's charity the 'Sunshine Fund'.

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-evening-chronicle/2008/06/19/chronicle-dog-boosts-sunshine-fund-appeal-72703-21105952/


The charity does excellent work in raising funds to enhance the lives of local disabled children and their families in Tyneside.

http://www.eveningchroniclesunshinefund.org.uk/default.aspx


It is not surprising that Newcastle Stadium has so enthusiastically joined forces with such a worthy charity in an attempt to promote the stadium and greyhound racing as a caring and compassionate concern. This is sinking to an all time low, encouraging a charitable organisation which seeks to improve the lives of children to do so at the expense of greyhounds' lives.

We all know too well, how the industry propagate a pretentious welfare image and will have undoubtedly taken advantage of the charity's naivety in developing this venture. No doubt claiming that William Hill's stadia are the exception to the rule, have no 'welfare issues' and re-home all their ex racing greyhounds.

Please send 'awareness' emails to both the Sunshine Fund and also the Evening Chronicle. Contact details are given below, as are some links that you may wish to include with your appeal.

This is an excellent opportunity, to once again, educate the influential media and raise public awareness against this exploitative industry who stop at nothing to gain support in what is a very desperate time for greyhound racing in the UK.

Please keep all correspondence polite and if you wish the charity or newspaper to reply to you personally, please remember to enclose your contact details.

Many thanks once again, for your valued support.

[e-mail]

Email to:
[e-mail] (Sunshine Fund Manager)

[e-mail] (Fundraising Assistant)

[e-mail] (Editor to the Chronicle)


http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/send-a-story/ (Online story submission)


Write to:

Evening Chronicle Groat Market, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1ED.


Awareness and Educational Links:


Recent Media Exposures

Greyhound breeder offers slow dogs to be killed for research

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article3908388.ece


Vets' secret trade in dog body parts

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3466712.ece


APGAW report

http://www.greyhoundpetition.org/APGAW_Report.pdf


Greyt Exploitations Video

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=1rAB-PY7XZQ


Greyhounds Galore Innocence Video (local to Newcastle)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIInZ80tnFo



Tia's Wall of Shame

http://www.tiagreyhounds.org.uk/wall.htm


Websites:

Greyhound Action

http://www.greyhoundaction.co.uk/


Greyhound Action Scotland

http://www.greyhoundactionscotland.org.uk/


Greyhound Muses

http://www.greyhoundmuses.com/


Action For Greyhounds

http://www.actionforgreyhounds.co.uk/

Sample Email:

I was dismayed to read that The Evening Chronicle is planning to get involved with the Greyhound racing industry. I am writing to advise you of the immense cruelty that is an inherent part of this industry. Thousands of young, healthy Greyhounds are killed in various inhumane ways every year when they reach the end of their racing career, this is usually at three or four years of age. A lucky few are destroyed humanely by a vet, many more are put to death by various means that include shooting, drowning, injection of bleach and having their ears cut off to avoid detection through the ear tattoo and then left to bleed to death. I have personally seen many examples of all of these acts of barbarity that characterize the racing industry.

You may be aware of the recent exposure of David Smith, a man from Co. Durham who over the course of several years has shot over 10,000 Greyhounds with a captive bolt pistol and then buried them on his land. The story was covered by The Times newspaper in July 2006. Unfortunately there are many more like David Smith, he was just the one who got caught, and anyone who attends a Greyhound race is supporting through their financial contribution the acts that Smith and others perpetrate on a daily basis.

It is well known that the Sunshine Fund does excellent work in raising funds to enhance the lives of local disabled children and their families in Tyneside. It is not surprising that Newcastle Stadium has so enthusiastically joined forces with such a worthy charity in an attempt to promote the stadium and greyhound racing as a caring and compassionate concern. The Greyhound racing industry is sinking to an all time low, encouraging a charitable organisation which seeks to improve the lives of children to do so at the expense of greyhounds' lives.

We also know too well, how the industry propagate a pretentious welfare image and will have undoubtedly taken advantage of the charity's good name in developing this venture. No doubt claiming that William Hill's stadia are the exception to the rule, have no 'welfare issues' and re-home all their ex racing greyhounds.

May I ask you in the name of compassion to please reconsider your decision to visit a Greyhound race and instead to help us in our efforts to bring about a nationwide ending to the suffering and slaughter of thousands of beautiful dogs every year. For more information you can visit http://www.greyhoundmuses.com and also http://www.greyhoundaction.co.uk thank you for reading this.

As usual you can find facts, case studies etc

http://www.greyhoundaction.org.uk and to http://www.greyhoundaction.org.uk/facts7.html and http://www.greyhoundaction.org.uk/facts.html and http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3466712.ece )

Please feel free to consult, quote and refer people to them.

[jules1968]

I have sent an email to the editor of The Evening Chronicle voicing my opinion on their decision to race a greyhound for their charity.

Here is what I said.

After reading the article dated june 19th on how you have 'signed up' a greyhound to race to help raise money for the Chronicle's Sunshine Fund I was totally disgusted. Although your charity does excellent work I want you to realise how cruel and dispicable the racing industry is. Unwanted greyhounds are very rarely rehomed a few 'lucky' ones are put to sleep the rest are shot, drowned, beaten, tortured & abandoned. If you take a minute to watch this video you will understand. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1b5NabhWUo

Without naming the greyhound stadium, I have been told by many people (mostly greyhound racers) that this stadium has a van parked outside, away from the public, and for a small fee unwanted greyhounds are taken inside and destroyed, I can't bear to think by what means.

I have adopted a greyhound and he is such a lovely animal, so loyal, affectionate & loving, considering the lack of affection he has had.

Please, please reconsider your decision in being involved in this cruel, cruel sport.

Although racing the dog will no doubt raise money & in turn help local disabled children, I beg you to think of other ways of doing this.

Thankyou for your time in reading my email,

Yours faithfully

Julie.

[*Lizzie*]

Thanks Julie