Greyhound Friends and The American-European Greyhound Alliance are hosting an international event at the Greyhound Friends kennel on Saturday, August 1 and Sunday, August 2.
Since greyhound racing has been significantly reduced in the United States, this event will focus on the international repercussions for greyhounds in other parts of the world where there is little animal welfare monitoring.
The two-day event will take place at 167 Saddle Hill Road, Hopkinton, Mass., on Saturday, August 1, 10:00a.m. – 4:00p.m. and Sunday, August 2 at 1:00p.m. The event is free and open to the public; however, donations will be accepted.
The International Update event will focus on global welfare and adoption issues concerning racing greyhounds, glagos, lurchers, and all the crosses in-between.
The number of greyhound racing tracks and racing dates has declined in the United States and is waning in both Spain and the United Kingdom as well. Subsequently, there appears to be a trend of greyhound racing moving to countries without animal welfare regulations with greyhound racing promoters now looking to places like St. Kitts, Latin America, South Africa, The Philippines and other countries in the Far East as markets for greyhounds.
The weekend affair will review current welfare issues while featuring various speakers covering topics from the Scooby Refuge to the fight of greyhound crosses to the incidence of bone cancer in racing greyhounds. Each presenter will speak for approximately one hour.
Lunch will be provided during an afternoon break. Conference presenters include:
- Fermin Perez, President of Scooby Refuge in Medina Del Campo, Spain
- Anna Clements and Albert Sorde, Founders and Directors SOS Galgos,
Barcelona, Spain - Dr. Guillermo Couto, Director of Clinical Hematology/Oncology and Animal Blood Bank at Ohio State University
- U.S. Representatives from the US Mid-West will discuss the plight of greyhound crosses.
- Philip Wilson, Member Society Manager, World Society for the Protection of Animals, WSPA
- Abby Christman, G.R.I.N.
- Michelle Scott, Speaker on lurchers from the American Mid-West
“With the changing face of greyhound racing around the United States, we are hopeful this event will help to raise the knowledge and awareness of greyhound adoption welfare throughout the world.” said Louise Coleman, Executive Director of Greyhound Friends.
