Greyhound dumped in Bristol 'with ears cut off'
The body of a greyhound pregnant with six pups was dumped in Bristol with its ears cut off in a bid to protect the culprits, the RSPCA said.
The Irish racing dog was discovered with both ears sliced off so her identity tattoos, which could lead back to her owners, would not be read.
The gruesome find on in Bristol is part of a "sickening catalogue" of cruelty incidents in the city this month, the charity revealed.
The spate of savagery includes the dumping of another dog with a "football-sized" tumour and the shootings of two cats with a crossbow and an airgun.
The greyhound's body was found dumped on February 14 on wasteland in the village of Iron Acton, near Yate. It was discovered by a member of the public. The local authority cleansing department collected the body.
RSPCA spokeswoman Jo Barr said: "Irish racing greyhounds are tattooed in the ear for identification purposes, and it is thought that the dog, a female greyhound who was heavily pregnant with six pups, was mutilated in order to prevent the culprits in this horrific case from being traced."
The charity is hoping someone will recognise the dog, who is black with white markings under her chin and a white blaze between her forelegs as well as two white spots on her throat.
It is not yet clear how the dog, thought to have been about four years old, died. A vet's examination suggested the body was dumped within 24 hours of when it was found. Her ears had been removed with a sharp blade and she was found wrapped in a blanket.
RSPCA inspector John Atkinson said: "This is a very distressing incident for all involved and we are investigating every possible avenue.
"If any member of the public saw people dumping the dog, or know of a dog answering this description, I would urge them to contact the RSPCA at once."
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by Josh, Bristol
Tuesday, March 17 2009, 2:14PM
“Julie the facts are that the racing industry generates overbreeding resulting in thousands of dogs who don't make the grade or retire being abandoned, sold for vivisection or put to sleep.
The industry does not exist for 'fun' for the dogs but for the huge gambling profits generated as the expense of the dogs welfare.
I didn't state this was a case of race related injury but why were the ears removed? This can only be so that the owner cannot be identified.
Therefore whoever owned her(presumabley someone with the industry if she was tattoed) is ultimately responsible for what has happened to this dog and if it is to survive the racing industry needs to accept resonsibilitiy for incidents like these.
Why doesn't the governing body proactively assist in investigating the incident and if it is found one of its members is culpable, name and shame the guilty parties and expel them from the 'sport' instead of leaving it to charities and the RSPCA. Maybe becuase there is no money in it?”
by donna, bristol
Monday, March 16 2009, 11:35PM
“that is so bad......it make me sick hope you find them ...”
by jeff, Australia
Friday, March 13 2009, 9:13PM
“For starters. This act is disgusting and in case of natural life, just plain cruel. But to naturally put the blame on the greyhound industry isn't going to fix it. I may be an Australian Trainer but the Vast majority of trainers and owners look after there dogs. I for one have 6 in work, and 3 who wonder around the house as great companions to myself and partner. We always find homes for our retired ones and if injury of a severe nature occurs (like any other dog) we take the hard but fair option of euthansia.
Greyhound racing isnt a cruel sport. The dogs are BRED to chase and we are giving them the means to do what they love, whether it be fun, hobby or career..
This act is cruel and painful for me to even read but don't punish or slander the majority off good people for the actions a select minority who should have there ears cut off in jail..”
by julie, south wales
Friday, March 13 2009, 7:37PM
“Josh your very ill informed, Lurchers are not used for racing on a flapping track neither do travellers as you put it race at a flapping track, I have gone to flapping track for 40 yrs and not witnessed what you imply. As I am writting this i have my retired racer lying at my feet on her own doggie duvet with 2 staffies snuggled up to her .I raced her and now I have retired her she is part of our family. The trouble with the ill informed you tar everyone with same brush and never ever think to consider the majority of decent owners, because you lot are so busy picking out the minority. who enrage us decent owners because we are disgusted that anyone can do such a thing but it dosnt give reason to class us all the same, look at the child killers like baby P ,and others who kill thier children, because they abuse thier children do you campain to stop all couples from having children because a minority will abuse and kill thiers `NO ` because the vast majority of us are decent caring parents and so its the same with greyhound ownership ..you dont tar everyone!!! because of some bad apples , they are in all aspects of society.And with this particular case of this poor bitch being in pup its more likely that she had finished racing and been re homed and who`s to say that she had then got pregnant by accident to any breed , and thats reason this horrible act of cruelty was done to her, because with stud prices costing hundreds of pounds and even over a thousand with some top sires so, an owner is highly unlikely to kill the bitch is he?
So to jump to the conclusion that this is a race related case of cruelty is wrong .”
by Josh, Bristol
Friday, March 13 2009, 3:54PM
“Greyhound racing has only been around since the turn of the last century - where it belongs. It is not natural to race dogs round oval tracks in pursuit of an artificial hare . Often this causes injury and dogs to be put to sleep (killed) becuse trainers/owners do not want to pay for vet bills or rehabilitate an injured dog as there is no profit in it.
Any one who thinks greyhound racing is not primarily about profit is burying their head in the sand.
Lurchers and ex/failed racing greyhounds are also used by members of the 'travelling community' on illegal 'flapping' tracks and/or for hunting.
Seeing the location this poor dog was found, it's origin and past reports you don't have to be Einstein to work out the probable location of it's former home/owners.”