Victory
at Glastonbury!
No more greyhound racing at Abbey Moor Stadium
(less than 5 months after it re-started)
updated
march 2006
The
"Stadium of Death".
Now just a football stadium again.
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Supporters
of Avon & Somerset Greyhound Action (ASGA) who had gathered
for a demonstration outside the Salisbury offices of Peter Toogood,
owner of Glastonbury's Abbey Moor Stadium, on Monday, March
6th, were met by Mr Toogood, who told them "you've won,
it's over, I'm giving up".
He then went into his offices and came out a few minutes later
with the following written statement:-
"This is to officially confirm
that I have today telephoned the greyhound operators and advised
them that due to more vandalism which is also putting the football
club in jeopardy there will be no more greyhound racing at Abbey
Moor Stadium Glastonbury."
Toogood was referring to yet another attack on the stadium by
the Animal Liberation Front, which was reported on the Western
Animal Rights Network website as follows:
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3/2/06
Greyhound Race Track visited by the ALF
Glastonbury track targeted for the third
time.
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During the morning of Friday March 3rd 2006,
Animal Liberation Front activists attacked the Glastonbury greyhound
racing track for the third time.
Power
cables for the track's floodlights were cut, red paint was thrown
on the track, and messages were spray-painted around the track.
A
race was planned for Friday night. Hopefully the continual property
damage at the track will soon force it to close, they are said
to be struggling financially.
This
action is dedicated to Snow Storm, a greyhound which died in
pain after a race at the track on January 27th.
Close
the track!
There is no doubt that the ALF actions at the stadium contributed
significantly to Toogood's decision to close the dog track and
we are quite sure such activists would be regarded as heroes
by the spirits of Rusty, Snowstorm and the many thousands of
other greyhounds that have suffered and died through the brutality
of the dog racing industry.
It was also obvious that Toogood was very perturbed at the prospect
of a demonstration outside his offices and the fact that the
ASGA campaign was now extending beyond protests outside the
stadium and starting to target him on a personal level. He may
also have heard that next in the pipeline was a march to his
home address.
After Toogood brought greyhound racing back to Abbey Moor Stadium
last October, there were many reports of injuries to dogs, culminating
in the tragic death of Snowstorm, and several incidents of illtreatment
of greyhounds by trainers. The track also contributed to the
overall demand of the dog racing industry for the mass breeding
of greyhounds, with the majority being put to death when no
longer required for racing.
Avon & Somerset Greyhound Action can be contacted
at avonsomersetga@yahoo.co.uk
and you can find more info about them by clicking
here
VICTORY FOR GREYHOUNDS AS RACE TRACK CLOSES
: Avon & Somerset Greyhound Action Press Release
Campaigners are celebrating today following the announcement
that Glastonbury's Abbey Moor stadium will no longer host greyhound
racing.
In a written statement, owner Peter Toogood confirmed that there
will be no more greyhound racing at the Glastonbury track.
The stadium controversially re-introduced greyhound racing in
October 2005 and animal rescue workers were concerned at the
cruelty endured by dogs during racing and their neglect when
they are no longer fit to race.
"We are delighted that Mr Toogood has decided to call a
halt to greyhound racing at the Abbey Moor stadium. This is
a great victory for animal welfare in the west country,"
said Dave Garland, spokesman for Avon & Somerset Greyhound
Action.
"Just a few weeks ago a dog died after breaking his neck
while racing at the Glastonbury stadium. In December a young
greyhound was abandoned at the track and another trainer was
reported to the RSPCA after threatening to shoot his dog. Many
greyhounds are injured while racing and thousands are killed
or abandoned across the UK every year."
"This is the last independent "flapping" track
in the south west and we are concerned that some trainers will
now euthanise their dogs as they have nowhere to race them.
We are appealing to trainers to contact their local rescue centres
to find new homes for their dogs rather than abandon them or
have them killed. Greyhounds are very loving dogs and they make
great family pets. There is no need for any animal to be destroyed."
Trainers can contact the Greyhound and Lurcher Welfare &
Rescue hotline on 07931 834 283 and we will find homes for any
greyhounds in need.
A letter will also be issued to every veterinary surgery in
the Somerset area urging them not to put unwanted greyhounds
to sleep. There are many animal rescue groups in the south west
willing to help find homes for the dogs.
Read
on to see the history of the campaign:
News
about Glastonbury Abbey Moor stadium:
Greyhound killed at
Glastonbury's "Stadium of Death":
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Abbey Moor has been dubbed the "Stadium of
Death" by local greyhound protection campaigners,
due to the dangerous nature of the track and the
large number of dogs put to death by the greyhound
racing industry generally.
Since the track reopened last October, there have
been several serious injuries to greyhounds running
there and now a dog has died. Unsurprisingly, the
track proprietors kept tight-lipped about the incident,
but now the news has leaked out.
During a race on 27th January 2006, a greyhound
called "Snow Storm" hit the barrier surrounding
the track and lay crying for 10 minutes before dying.
Even hardened greyhound racing enthusiasts were
upset that the dog suffered for so long, despite
there being a vet on-site.
It is suspected that Snow Storm sustained a heart
attack after having to endure racing twice in one
night, which is normally not permitted at greyhound
tracks.
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