>>> Meridiana track closes ... the last in Spain <<<

BUT NOW HUNDREDS OF DOGS NEED RE-HOMING

Help urgently needed now!

UPDATE 15th March 2006:

"The news that I got this morning is that a hundred greyhounds have been transported from the racetrack in Barcelona to the Scooby shelter in Medina Del Campo. so that is good news, for more information please visit www.scoobymedina.com . There is now a chance to help these greyhounds directly. Yours sincerly Lisbeth Mønsted Larsen."

GA comment: The Scooby shelter does amazing work and deserves our support ... especially as they are now dealing with 100 new residents rescued from Meridiana. To visit the Scooby website and find out exactly how you can help ... click here

ORIGINAL ALERT:

Greyhound Action recieved the following email from a greyhound activist...

"My name is Lisbeth Mønsted Larsen the reason that I am writing to you is to ask for your help,you see the greyhound race track in Barcelona Spain has closed down leaving 600 irish greyhounds in danger of loosing their lives, animal welfare organisations in europe and the USA are working together so that good homes can be found for these gentle souls who don`t deserve to be killed inhumanely wich will happen if we do not intefer in time and get these greyhounds out of there,if you want more information about the goings on in Spain/animal hell on earth, take a look at the following website where you can find out what is needed to help these greyhounds who are in need right now, http://www.greyhoundsinneed.co.uk thank you so much for reading this mail and I am sure you agree that now is a time for action,the reason that I am so involved with this issue is that last year I adopted a young purebred greyhound who was found starving to death in front of the main gates of the royal palace in Madrid,Connor as I have named him was only thirteen months when he was found,now he is two years of age and a very hansom and deeply loved family member, he lives with me and my three year old whippet Mike and we both love Connor very deeply,he changed our lives for the better as greyhounds do if you let them into your heart and home. with high regards from Lisbeth Mike whippet and Connor the rescued greyhound who survived Spain where so manny others have not been as lucky as him. Have a heart give a greyhound a home, thank you."

GA comment: Meridiana was the last track in Spain and it's closure (incidentally for tax reasons) is a great day and a great victory for greyhound campaigners all around the world! As Lisbeth mentions, you can find out how you can help by visiting http://www.greyhoundsinneed.co.uk ... and if you would like to know more about the Meridiana track click here .

UPDATE: There is now a petition to stop ex-racers being sold to hunters.

There are currently around 350 dogs to be saved now that the Barcelona track in Spain has closed. Rescues are trying to save as many as possible but are fearing that they will be sold to hunters.

Please sign to try and stop this from happening. Please see below for the translation of details you need to submit. Please click on firmar to submit your signature. Many thanks.

WARNING The picture is very graphic

http://firmas.amnistianimalmadrid.org/

Translation:

Name:
Last names:
DNI/PASSPORT: Address
Country:
Email:

Below is an article explaining the circumstances in which the track closed:

The Meridiana greyhound racing track dismisses it's 54 employees after the rise in betting rates.

The Meridiana greyhound racing track, the last remaining in Spain, has introduced an Employment Regulation Expedient (ERE) to dismiss it's entire roster of employees, made up of 54 permanent workers, in view of the increase in betting rates from 3 to 10% attributed by the Generalitat, which makes the industry unfeasible.

The Meridiana greyhound racing track, who manage the long standing grounds, owes the Catalan government 1.68 million euros in arrears and interest in rates payments, according to Pedro Sierra the administration chief of the Social, Cultural and Sports Committee of the Federation of UGT Services of Catalunya.

The last greyhound races took place yesterday and from now on only a dozen workers will continue in their placements to sell the dogs and carry out the minimal tasks of maintaining the track.

The company, who finished the last financial year with losses and whose profits reduced some 4% in 2004, has negotiated in recent months with the Generalitat, the possible suspension of the increase in rates, which should have commenced at the start of 2003.

Meridiana race track is offering the employees a redundancy payment of 20 days per year worked, the legal minimum, even though it is voluntarily negotiating with the UGT and CC.OO trade unions.

Greyhound Action Comment: readers with a long memory may remember that the gangster Al Capone was also finally caught and jailed due to problems over taxation :-)

GA UK

GA International