Following the announcement of a proposal for a greyhound track at Cockermouth in Cumbria, the local newspaper and councillors have received messages of objection to the track from all over the world (see http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/1.53274 or at the bottom of this page).

The proposal is to be further discussed at a meeting of the Cockermouth Town Council on March 19th, so it's still important to educate the councillors about the suffering and slaughter of greyhounds caused by the dog racing industry.

Their e-mail addresses are as follows: please add your voices to the worldwide outcry ... be polite and let them know the facts.

Cockermouth Town Councillors

alan.smith@allerdale.gov.uk

sam.standage@allerdale.gov.uk

les.lytollis@allerdale.gov.uk

margaret.jackson@allerdale.gov.uk

Please feel free to point them to http://www.greyhoundaction.org.uk and also to http://www.greyhoundaction.org.uk/facts7.html and here ... http://www.greyhoundaction.org.uk/facts.html

You might also like to contact the local paper (The News and Star http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/home ) and let them know your feelings: letters@cumbrian-newspapers.co.uk

Please also send messages of ‘Thanks’ to Daniel Cattanach, who has taken the time to voice and publish our concerns: DCattanach@cngroup.co.uk

As this is a financially based venture you might also like to point out that greyhound racing is in decline in the UK and attendances are falling everywhere so it is unlikely that this track will be a success. You can refer them to http://www.greyhoundaction.org.uk/closedtracks.html which contains infromation about this.

Finally you might like to refer them to the recent Times article about healthy unwanted racing greyhounds being killed for their organs http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3466712.ece

Last week the council discussed the possibility of turning the running track around the rugby ground, Tarn Close, into a greyhound course.

However, the move has been criticised by campaigners from as far away as America and New Zealand for promoting a “barbaric” sport, amid claims that thousands of greyhounds are killed or abandoned once they pass their prime.

In a letter to the News & Star, Judith Swain, of Swansea, says: “I am very disappointed that Cockermouth Town Council is discussing the possibility of a new greyhound stadium in Cumbria.

“Greyhound racing creates a demand for the breeding of more and more greyhounds, most of which will be slaughtered or abandoned if they fail to make the grade or when their racing careers are over.

“Each year 10,000 greyhounds retire from racing, but only 2,000 are known to be rehomed. Many dogs are cruelly killed by drowning in rivers after heavy weights have been attached to them or abandoned without food or water.

“There is a shortage of homes available for so many dogs. There is rapidly growing opposition to greyhound racing by people concerned about the fate of the dogs.

“I urge Cockermouth Town Council not to support and promote this barbaric ‘sport’ by permitting a new greyhound stadium in Cumbria.”

Cockermouth town and Allerdale borough councillor Alan Smith said he and fellow councillors had received emails of protest from others across the globe, including America and New Zealand.

He said he was researching the possibilities with Cockermouth mayor Sam Standage and town clerk David Bertram after he was asked by a member of the public to raise the issue at the last council meeting.

He added: “At the moment it’s only a suggestion – nothing’s been decided.

“We’ve had reaction from Bolton and Blackburn and all over the place saying if there was a greyhound track they would support it.”

He said both sides of the argument would be presented to a full meeting of Cockermouth Town Council on March 19 but added any possible go ahead for the idea would need outside funding.

Greyhound racing was a popular sport in west Cumbria until the closure of Workington’s Lonsdale Stadium nine years ago.