Blue Cross questions Oxford greyhound venue over deaths

Blue Cross, which has a rehoming centre in Burford, said it had "significant concerns" regarding the welfare of dogs at all tracks following the Greyhound Board of Great Britain’s (GBGB) publication of the annual injury, death and retirement data on June 26.

The 2023 national statistics show 359 dogs involved in racing died or were put to sleep  – a 47 per cent increase on the previous year.

READ MORE: Traffic filters scheme postponed, say highways bosses

A total of 49 greyhounds died as a result of being designated unsuitable for rehoming, an 84 per cent increase compared to the previous year (20 dogs).

And 101 greyhounds were put to sleep on vet’s advice away from the track, an increase of 81 per cent compared to the previous year (43 dogs) and 105 greyhounds were put to sleep on humane grounds at the track, six more than the previous year (99 dogs).

The charity is also calling on all tracks in the UK to cancel races this weekend and not force dogs to race in the current heat.

Becky Thwaites, head of public affairs at Blue Cross, said: “Blue Cross are clear that the death of one dog is one dog too many.

Animal rights campaigners protested at the return of racing in 2022 (Image: Oxford Mail)"As Oxford Greyhound Stadium is one of the 20 licensed GBGB tracks in Britain that has contributed to these distressing figures, we have written to them to ask for further clarity regarding the injury, death and retirement data at the local racetrack.”

Currently, over 80,000 people have signed a Blue Cross petition calling for an end to greyhound racing.  If it reaches 100,000 signatures it will be debated in parliament.

Oxford Stadium has said it is no longer willing to co-operate with the charity as The Blue Cross "has refused to engage with our team".

In March the Sandy Lane venue withdrew its open invitation to Blue Cross senior representatives to visit and view the facilities and the HQ of trainer Kevin Hutton – who is based near the charity’s Burford offices.

Blue Cross had accepted the invitation on air during a Radio Oxford interview in September 2023, it said.

But since then, it "has repeatedly attempted to organise The Blue Cross’ visit without success".

READ MORE: Live updates - rail lines blocked due to incident

In a statement on its website, the stadium said it took four attempts to organise a date before Blue Cross CEO Chris Burghes formally accepted on December 14, 2023 under three conditions.

These were no recording of the visit – video, audio or transcript - no media presence, and Oxford Stadium supplies its injury and fatality data from the past year, which the stadium organisers said it accepted.

But the statement added: "Oxford Stadium has received no correspondence from The Blue Cross since January 18.

"It is disappointing – but not surprising – The Blue Cross has refused to engage with our team, and we now feel we have wasted enough time chasing their engagement and cooperation."