C.A.G.E.D Nationwide 'Ban the Bolt' Campaign

[Petition Supported by Ricky Gervais and Jane Fallon]

Each year an average of 7,000 greyhounds are killed due to greyhound racing -- puppies that don’t make the grade, dogs that sustain injuries, are pregnant or unable to find homes, most are less than five years old. Greyhounds are largely bred in Ireland to supply the demand for British racing dogs. 83% of greyhounds racing in Britain are Irish bred.



Many of these dogs are disposed of in the most 'economical' way - by bolt gun.

RTE recently filmed greyhounds being shot in the head at abattoirs in Ireland. (2019)

Journalist, Daniel Foggo uncovered evidence of dogs being shot by bolt in Hertfordshire at a knackery/abattoir.

In 2006 builder David Smith was accused of destroying approximately 10,000 greyhounds by bolt, and captured on film pushing a wheelbarrow of newly shot greyhounds. He was NOT punished under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Under existing UK legislation, any lay person can use a bolt gun to destroy a greyhound, if they are the legal owner. Attempted destruction of greyhounds by bolt has resulted in innocent dogs being left to suffer in agony for hours, before being found and taken to a veterinary surgery to be finally put to sleep by lethal injection.

British vets told us that the captive bolt gun has a massive capacity for misuse and can result in severe suffering of dogs.



These dogs should at the very least be entitled to a humane death. Destruction of greyhounds should only be performed by use of intravenous euthanasia, administered by qualified veterinary surgeons.



Following the controversial use of bolt guns by RSPCA inspectors a few years ago, the RSPCA requested the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) comment on their review of its 2004 euthanasia rules and guidelines. In April 2010 the RCVS announced that use of the captive bolt guns on dogs was inappropriate.



Defra have the power to end this cruel practice so we are calling on them to immediately abolish the use of captive bolt guns to destroy greyhounds in the UK.



For more information please click on the links below to read about Milton the greyhound and use of bolt gun in destruction.

http://www.cagednw.co.uk/ban-the-bolt.html

http://www.cagednw.co.uk/greyhound-disposal.html

http://www.greytexploitations.com/resources-and-reports/a-license-to-kill

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-396015/The-killing-fieldsof-10-000-greyhounds-old-race.html