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HORSE RACING
For the 2002 Macau Jockey Club shooting
of horses, please refer to the E-mail List archives: HORSE NEGLECT IN SABAH 2008: Photos of Horse neglect in Sabah, February 2008: (click on the thumbnails below to
enlarge)
Racehorses undergo gruelling training all year round. When the horses' bodies rebel, symptoms such as bleeding lungs, swollen joints and tiny cobweb-like bone fractures surface. Sometimes they are hidden by drugs which can also disguise the presence of other legal and illegal drugs. Fallacies and Facts Fallacy 1 - Horses love to gallop and jump. So horseracing is not cruel because they are just doing something they love anyway. Horses are naturally endowed with what it takes to be a racehorse. Fact - Yes, horses can be observed to be racing with each other in an open paddock but they can stop when they are tired of it. Race horses cannot stop when tired. If they slow down whips and spurs may be used. Sometimes there are performance enhancing operations such as the following which the horses have to go through. Neurectomy - cutting of the nerves in the lower leg of a horse with chronic limb pain to reduce sensation. Firing - the legs of the horses are burned with hot wires. This is supposed to improve leg tissue and tighten tendons. It is also unnatural for a horse to jump over a fence or large obstacle voluntarily especially with a human on its back at incredible speed. Fallacy 2 - Racehorses are not raced unless they are physically fit enough to withstand the gruelling pace. Facts- Immature horses are raced. Overexertion and injury Lameness "Therapeutic" Substances Fallacy 3 - The use of the whip during races is painless and necessary. Fact - Many races are won without using the whip. Some horses do not respond to it and others respond by stubbornly slowing down. Those which increase their speed probably do it out of fear and stress. Fallacy 4 - A racehorse is turned out to pasture when its career is over. Fact - A large number of horses end up in abattoirs. What can you do? Seriously rethink betting in horse races. Study the subject some more: Share your information with your friends and encourage them to do the same. Horses are abused in many other ways too.
See:
GREYHOUND RACING
Greyhound Action and the
American European Greyhound Alliance and the ISPCA (Irish Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) are all working hard to try to stop the
expansion of greyhound racing to Asia.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Animals Asia Foundation Report
Greyhound Racing Industry in Vietnam 2nd November 2002 AAF - Vietnam Background Animals Asia investigators have been visiting Vietnam since 1999. Vietnam currently has no animal welfare legislation. Animal welfare issues documented by Animals Asia in Vietnam are the illegal trade in wildlife, the illegal farming of Asiatic black bears for bile, and the slaughter and consumption of dogs. Dog eating is mainly prevalent in the north of Vietnam. Hanoi has a street dedicated to dog meat restaurants. However dog meat stalls had been previously witnessed in the south, in Ho Chi Minh City. Greyhound Industry in Vietnam Ba Ria Vung Tau Tourist Corporation in a joint venture with an Australian Company Hemlock Services, have established Sports & Entertainment Services Co Ltd (SES). SES has established the greyhound racing industry in Vietnam. They built Lam Son Stadium in Vung Tau and a greyhound breeding/training facility in nearby Ba Ria. Vung Tau City is a popular beachside resort, 2 ½ hours drive from Ho Chi Minh City. Posters promote greyhound racing in hotels in Vung Tau and one advertising billboard was observed. Racing is conducted on Saturday nights between 7 pm and 10 pm. Animals Asia was made aware of a report by Cyndi Napolitan from November 2001. This report and photos were viewed by many with a degree of scepticism. Some doubt has been expressed as to whether this article and photographs were a true indication of the day-to-day running of the new facility. As a result of concerns expressed by the International Greyhound Alliance, and Animals Australia (ANZFAS) at the exportation of greyhounds from Australia to Vietnam, Animals Asia investigators visited Vung Tau on the 2nd November 2002. Visit to Greyhound breeding facility - Ba Ria Saturday 2nd November 2002 After unsuccessfully trying to arrange a formal visit through a local contact, an unannounced visit was made to this facility with a Vietnamese interpreter. The breeding/training facility is located in the township of Ba Ria about 30 kilometres from Vung Tau City. The facility covers many hectares. A high perimeter fence and front gates secure it. Two Vietnamese staff monitor the entrance. My interpreter conveyed that I was visiting from Australia and was interested in greyhound racing. The attendant rode off on his pushbike to convey my request to management and returned and opened the gates to allow our vehicle to drive to the facility. Driving to the office complex I observed greyhounds being walked on leads around a large lake. I also observed a greyhound being exercised on a lead in a single lane 25-metre swimming pool. I was met by and received a warm welcome from Mr Hai - the assistant manager. Mr Hai speaks perfect English and is well educated. He is an Australian Vietnamese. The overall manager is also Vietnamese, Mr Nguyen and is based in Australia. Mr Hai introduced me to Mr Ngoc, the kennel manager. Mr Ngoc also speaks perfect English. He had spent 15 years in Australia. He was also very friendly and welcoming. I spent the next 45 minutes with Mr Ngoc - who showed me all areas of the facility, and willingly responded to my questions. My overall observations confirmed that the images displayed at http://www.globalgreyhounds.com/vietnam/vietnam.htm accurately depict this facility. It is obvious that no expense was spared in its creation. The welfare and physical health of the dogs appears to have been given serious consideration. Staff were observed displaying affection towards the dogs, and the dogs were obviously happy in their presence. The individual long kennel compounds house approximately 30 dogs and each has four permanent staff assigned to care for the dogs. Dogs all have canvas sack beds imported from Australia, runs were clean, had an indoor and outdoor area and all had fresh water. A water spray system is available on hot days to dogs in the outdoor section. There are currently have four hundred greyhounds on site. Two hundred and forty dogs were originally brought from Australia and New Zealand in 1999. The intention is to continue breeding Greyhounds in Vietnam and not import further greyhounds. Currently in Vung Tau they are restricted to racing once a week due to available dogs - and intentions are also to expand the industry into other areas of Vietnam. All dogs on site are owned by SES Corporation - dogs cannot be privately owned. The long term goal is to have a greyhound track in every city in Vietnam. Currently they have submitted an application to the Vietnam government to create their second track/stadium in Hai Phong. There are 50 permanent staff at this facility - many who live on site. There are 3 permanent Veterinary surgeons, one Australian trained, and two locally trained. Information provided by Mr Ngoc is that the oldest dogs bred on the facility are now 15 months old. Litters bred remain together in group housing until 11 months old - and have a permanent large exercise run. At 11 months old racing training commences. Dogs are first raced at 15 months old. Dogs are raced for 3 weeks and then have the 4th week off. There are 10 races on Saturday nights - 8 dogs per race. Decisions as to placement of dogs in races are made by SES head office in HCM City depending on the results of the previous week, injuries, and dogs being rested. All individually kennelled dogs that do not have access to exercise runs are walked for 4 kms each morning around the lake. I observed kennelled dog areas, the group housing of young dogs, and 3 bitches with pups separately housed. I was shown the large kitchen compound where food was being prepared for the evening feed. The kitchen was well organised and spotlessly clean. All dog dinners were being prepared in stainless steel bowls. The dogs are fed on a premium brand Canadian dry dog food (it would appear that they are part sponsors from signage at stadium) and kangaroo meat, imported by the container load from Australia. Food is stored in a large freezer room. Whilst not an expert in this area - my observations of the on site veterinary hospital was that it is extremely well equipped, and again, was spotlessly clean. This area contains offices for the vets, a large examination and treatment room, a separate operating theatre, and a large and well stocked drug room. All records relevant to individual dogs are kept on file. I met two of the vets who were entering data onto computer records. All dogs are microchipped. Racing - Lam Son Stadium Dogs are conveyed to the racetrack on Saturday evenings in individual cages on a large air-conditioned bus By any country's standards the Lam Son stadium is impressive. On this particular night there was 2 to 3 thousand people in attendance. In holiday season there can be 7 to 8 thousand people. Many people seemed just to be spectating - few seemed to be placing bets. The racing is videoed and played on close circuit TV monitors around the stadium - betting odds are displayed on these same monitors. The cost of entrance to the stadium is 10,000 VND for general areas, 20,000 VND for the grandstand and 50,000 VND for the VIP air-conditioned enclosed viewing area. (US $1 = 15,325 VND) In a preparation area dogs are allowed to stretch etc prior to races and are microchip scanned. Dogs then have their numbers tied on and are paraded in front of the crowd on 3 occasions before a race. All aspects of this handling, plus the placing of dogs in the starting gates, were being performed with care. However, it was disturbing to observe one particular Greyhound exhibiting obvious fear and an unwillingness to be part of proceedings. When placed in the starting box he repeatedly barked in distress and scratched at the door. He performed poorly in the race. Dogs were washed down after races and rubbed dry with towels. I observed that the two vets that I had met at the breeding facility were both at the racetrack. Officials with hand held radios were controlling timing of activities and races. Fate of unwanted Greyhounds Aside from ascertaining the level of care and well being of the dogs - a priority was to assess the likelihood of Greyhounds ending up in the food trade. I spoke with Kennel manager Mr Ngoc about this issue. I was advised that dogs are raced to the age of 5 years old. Mr Ngoc's response to my query as to what happened to the dogs once their racing life was complete - was that they try to find good homes for them, and if they can't they are euthanised by injection. I was informed that dogs made available for adoption are all spayed - "because we don't want to cause a problem by having greyhounds everywhere". On face value - it would seem to be done purely through a sense of responsibility, and this may be the case. However, it could be suggested that this measure also ensures that SES maintains total control of this fledgling industry in Vietnam. Based on local knowledge in Vietnam, and information gained as a result of this investigation, I feel that there is minimal possibility of Greyhounds ending up in the dog meat trade. My reasons are as follows: 1/ From my observation - every aspect of SES's operations from the breeding facility to building of Lam Son Stadium have been created with total professionalism. One might even suggest that the extremes of care taken in every aspect of this new industry in Vietnam, may well be as a result of being aware that establishing such an industry in a dog eating country would face criticism. In what is obviously a multimillion-dollar investment for SES it is difficult to imagine that they would place the reputation at risk by selling off unwanted Greyhounds for what would amount to a few dollars. 2/ Vung Tau City does have one dog meat restaurant. However there is a preference for young dogs in Vietnam, and there is no shortage of young dogs to meet current needs whether in Vung Tau, or in other areas of Vietnam. In those areas where dog eating is predominant, it is common for families to keep one dog as a pet and then sell the puppies to restaurants or keep for personal consumption. My observations of the Vung Tau dog restaurant and dogs that had met their fate, or were waiting to - was that they were serving young dogs. Ironically premises on both sides of the restaurant were observed to have well fed and seemingly contented dogs interacting with their owners. On a practical level, greyhounds because of their age and lithe physical appearance may not be attractive to dog meat vendors' even if made available. Also it would seem that Greyhounds are being afforded a level of respect not given to local dogs, through being involved in an industry that in Vietnam is seen as unique and exciting. 3/ Perhaps the most positive aspect witnessed both at the breeding/training facility and also at the racetrack was the interaction and relationship between the staff and the dogs. The system established by the breeding centre ensures a degree of one to one care on a daily basis. Staff showing affection to dogs was witnessed on a number of occasions. This bond with day to day staff, combined with the fact that the management of this facility are Vietnamese that have been educated overseas, and have spent considerable time in western countries - would also decrease the likelihood of Greyhounds ending up at restaurants. Summary The Animals Asia Foundation is opposed to Greyhound Racing in any country. Greater concerns had been raised for Greyhounds in Vietnam due to the lack of animal welfare legislation, and in the knowledge that some members of Vietnamese society consume dogs as a food source. My visit to the breeding/training facility at Ba Ria was unannounced, therefore allaying concerns that it may be "tidied" up in preparation. My overall assessment of this facility is that it is professionally run, and the standard of care and housing is high. In Vietnam, such a facility, and level of care of animals, is unprecedented. The undisputed negative factors remain, that these animals are being exploited for commercial gain, local people through this industry are being exploited through being encouraged to gamble, and regardless of the minimal prospect that Greyhounds will end up as a food source, the reality remains that more dogs will be euthanised than find good homes, once they have outlived their usefulness. Lyn White Regional Director (Aus/NZ) /Vietnam Representative Animals Asia Foundation
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Last revised:
04-Mar-08