 A Greyhound
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July 22, 2003 — An Irish animal charity on Monday slammed as "atrocious" the conditions under which a group of racing greyhounds was sent from Ireland to Spain, calling for changes to the laws on transporting animals.
In a report called "Greyhound Hell," the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals described how the 26 dogs sweltered in temperatures reaching 40°C (104°F) inside cages on a truck.
During the 38-hour journey, the dogs were unable to sit or stand comfortably and were only given water once, according to the report, which was based on a covert surveillance operation.
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The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which made the study with the help of Britain's Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said conditions on the journey from Cork in the south of Ireland to Barcelona were "atrocious."
The charity's director of operations Alastair Keen called for laws for transporting dogs for commercial purposes to be tightened.
"Dogs are frequently overlooked in legislation and as a result their welfare is being compromised," he said. "These poor animals have had to endure nearly a day and a half of travel in the most uncomfortable and dreadful conditions imaginable."
As a result of their investigation, the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said, Spanish police had reported the British driver of the vehicle for breaches of Spanish and European Union regulations.
Ireland is one of the world's foremost greyhound breeding countries with about 20,000 puppies registered every year.
Some of those that fail to make the grade are exported to race in Spain.
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