Sick And Unthinkable: Brutal Greyhound Murder With A Breadknife

Normally I take the time to provide an introduction to various stories I have emailed to me or read about greyhounds but I am absolutely seething with rage at the moment. I have literally just received an email, the contents of which are written word for word below, that has made me feel sick. Please read it and pass on the message because this HAS TO STOP NOW!!!

GREYHOUND FOUND STABBED TO DEATH WITH BREADKNIFE IN SUNDERALND (UK)- LOW LIFE SCUM GREYHOUND KILLER LEFT OFFENSIVE WEAPON AT SCENE OF CRIME!!! SEE ARTICLE BELOW
There were bones sticking out of its body and it looked extremely thin like it hadn't been looked after!!!!

Greyhound Crusaders/SWAP team UK have been alerted to this recent MURDER from one of our supporters in the area therefore if anyone has any intelligence on this case please email us at greyhoundcrusaders@googlemail.com or southwestanimalprotection@yahoo.co.uk immediately

MANY THANKS
Grehound Crusaders/SWAP team UK

The article can be found at http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/Jean39s-horror-over-dog-find.5002404.jp or in full below:

ARTICLE
Jean's horror over dog find
Published Date:
20 February 2009
By Marissa Carruthers

An animal lover has spoken of her disgust at her grim discovery after she found a dead dog that had been stabbed in the head.

Jean Frost was disgusted when a pal told her she had stumbled across the brutally disfigured greyhound in land near Dene Street, Silksworth when she was walking her dog.

She phoned police, who took a bread knife that lay next to the dog away to be examined.

And the 46-year-old was horrified when she returned to the site a week later and found the animal's body was still there.

Mrs Frost, of Thorney Close, said: "My friend was walking her dog when she found this greyhound with a knife lying next to it.

"She looked at it closer and it had stab wounds to its head and the rest of its body and there was a knife lying next to its legs.

"Its ears were also filled with blood so it was definitely stabbed.

"She called the police and someone came out to take some pictures and they took the knife with them."

Mrs Frost, who has volunteered with several animal rescue centres across the region, said the dog looked as though it had been badly treated and was malnourished.

She said: "It's disgusting and pathetic that anyone could do something like this. There's absolutely no need to stick a knife into a dog's head.

"Even people who are not working can go to the PDSA and get free help or get them put down humanly.

"Or there's greyhound rescue centres they can be taken to.

"There were bones sticking out of its body and it looked extremely thin like it hadn't been looked after. It's so sad."

A police spokesman said: "On Wednesday, February 11, police received a report of a dead dog in woods near to Dene Street, Silksworth. Police attended the area but were unable to locate the dog.

"On Thursday, February 12, police were assisted in finding the dog by the member of the public who had initially reported it.

"The dog was found away from the main walking tracks in a remote part of the wood. Police also recovered a knife at the scene.

"Council cleansing teams were called to remove the dog's body and the RSPCA were also informed about the discovery."

Anyone wanting to report animal cruelty can seek advice from the RSPCA by phoning 0300 1234 999.

Please Sign The Stop Greyhound Cruelty Petition

Just a quick note today to pass on a message to everyone that cares about greyhounds for a member of the Facebook cause, Andy Falconer. Andy left a link at the cause page today for a petition to promote the abolition of greyhound cruelty, which desperately needs signatures.

You can find the petition here: STOP GREYHOUND CRUELTY.

Please sign, even if you do so anonymously, and pass on the link to your friends.

Hitting The Greyhound Industry Where It Hurts!

It's been a while since I wrote a post on this blog because most of my posts have been placed on Lou's Gorgeous Greyhounds in recent months. However, the news I'm receiving is starting to come through thick and fast on Greyhound rescues and the industry itself so I'm going to try and maintain the 2 from now on!

First up is the subject of an email I received a few days ago, which I think is briliant! Debra Rothery, the founder of TIA Greyhound and Lurcher Rescue, has decided to hit the Greyhound industry where it hurts - right in their pockets! She has decided that the stray greyhounds that come into TIA’s care are the financial responsibility of the racing industry. This is definitely the case under the law because it means that owners are failing to implement Rule 18 – ‘Responsibility of Ownership'. Consequently, she has sent an invoice to the GBGB claiming minimal expenses for stray greyhounds which TIA has incurred since the start 2009. Good on her! The amount of money Greyhound rescues spend every year to pick up the pieces for thes poor creatures is disgusting so it's about time they took responibility themselves! You can find more information about this at Greytexploitations.

While we are on the subject of funding for greyhound rescues, I am still collecting used postage stamps to help fill the funding deficits of Greyhound rescues since the credit crunch started. Please email me if you can send any used postage stamps to help these beautiful creatures.

Used Postage Stamps Appeal For Italian Greyhound Rescue

I recently received an email from a friend who needs help. She is attempt to raise funds for the Italian Greyhound Rescue. Located in the UK, the registered charity (#1104157) is well knonw for its rescue and rehoming program for mistreated and abused Italian Greyhounds up and down the country. They have really helped the breed in the past and, with a little help, will be able to rehome more Italian Greyhounds in the future.

They need used postage stamps, but not just UK ones. They can be from anywhere in the world aslong as the serrated edges are intact so leave a little paper around them. If you can send any through to her at all then please drop me a line and I'll give you the address to send them to. Any and all contributions of postage stamps would be much appreciated.

The Italian Greyhound Rescue needs our help so please just take a couple of seconds to rip the stamp off the envelope when you receive a letter. It will make a difference and help these wonderful people to continue to do an excellent job.

Stop The Skinning Alive Of Animals In China!!!

I originally posted this on Lou's Gorgeous Greyhounds but this message NEEDS to be sent so please spread the word as far as possible. Something MUST be done.

With the Olympics on the horizon in the very near future, China has come under scrutiny from various different angles. If it isn't the smog and air pollution then it's the human rights issues. However, I want to draw attention to something else. i want to draw attention to the barbaric treatment of animals.

Now any greyhound lover that has looked into the slaughter of greyhounds in Asia will probably know that greyhounds are skinned and eaten there. This may be horrifying but it is completely true. However, at least the greyhounds are dead before they do that. This may not sound like a plus point at all, but it is when you consider this next fact.

Did you know that 2 million, yes 2,000,000 cats and dogs are skinned alive for their fur every year. They then die in the most horrific way because they are not put out of their misery. They are instead left to die.

There is a petition that you can sign on the Care2 site. This is the direct link. Please please sign it as they are looking for 2 million signatures, one for every cat and dog treated in this barbaric way.

We must put a stop to it now!!! After all, could you imagine the two gorgeous creatures below with no fur? No? Neither could I. This brutality has to be stopped now so please support it... for the sake of all of our furry friends.

Greyhound Training: Helping Ease The Transition From Racer To Household Pet

When you adopt a greyhound, you may feel quite satisfied that you've done a good thing, and so you should! That one greyhound is one more that is safe and secure... and will never have to go through the suffering that some of his or her more unfortunate brethren will. However, your work is only just beginning.

A greyhound will have never lived in a home before so whilst he or she is usually house trained and will go outside to the toilet, other manners have to be taught. Molly was terrible at dinnertime when we got her. She had no concept of table manners at all and would try to eat off our plates whilst we were eating. She soon learned that she couldn't do that with a little training and now barely takes any notice when we eat. Everything we take for granted with older dogs does not apply with greyhounds. They are puppies in adult dog bodies!

I wrote an article on this topic a few days ago and it is published here so go take a look to see how to train a greyhound to be a family pet!

The RSPCA Get Two On Greyhound Cruelty Charges

The RSPCA in the UK is often accused of not doing enough to protect greyhounds but, trust me, they do as much as they possibly can. They take greyhounds in and pass them on to shelters that can nurse them back to health. They also do their utmost to find and prosecute the perpetrators of greyhound abuse as well. However. Their powers are somewhat limited. Take this case in point.

Rebecca Hagger (aged 20) and Rosemary Hagger (aged 51) were prosecuted recently for greyhound abuse at Peterborough Magistrates Court. They had already entered a guilty plea to the charge of causing unnecessary suffering to three greyhounds as well as failing to meet the welfare needs of a further four greyhounds. They were only given a 10 year ban on owning dogs for their horrific greyhound abuse.

In fact, the greyhound abuse was that bad that Rebecca was banned from owning all animals for 10 years and ordered to do 200 hours of community service. Rosemary was given a 12-month conditional discharge. Their greyhund abuse was absolutely sickening, so much so that I am not printing all of the details here but neither was sentenced to jail. Instead they got away with the above and a £250 fine to covercourt costs.

Their abuse goes back to September 2007 which is when the RSPCA were called in. Inspectors found three greyhounds that were emaciated and had numerous infected sores during their visit. This actually goes against section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act, 2006, and yet neither was sent to jail. The remaining four were severely underweight, had flea infestations and were living in disusting conditions. They had no food or water and that broke section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act, 2006. Again, neither of them went to jail.

The vet that was called in to treat the emaciated greyhounds actually said that two of the three dog had been severely neglected for at las two months with the other dog having bee left for at least one month. The defence? The dogs were owned by Rosmary's husband, whoc had died. That is absolutely no excuse for this horrific treatment, especially given the fact that Rebecca was still working in the greyhound racing industry at the time of her trial.

One of the RSPCA inspectors that attended to the dogs said the following:

Animals deserve much better than the conditions these dogs were kept in and should have access to veterinary treatment when they need it. The RSPCA believes that the government must introduce effective national standards to ensure the welfare of racing and ex-racing greyhounds. We also feel that those in the industry must be compelled to ensure provision is made for retired dogs.

As you can see, the RSPCA wanted a harsher penalty for the two abusers but could not do much about the penalty they got. It is time we started calling for harsher penalties for those that perpetrate greyhound abuse I think.

On a brighter note, all of the greyhounds are now well cared for, although three still needed a home last time I heard how they were. Boris, Tyler and Wilson are all black and white and are extremely loving. Despite all that has happened to them, they are still very friendly... and lazy! If you think youcould give them a home then please call the RSPCA Peterborough & District Branch on 01733 248116.