Archaic Dog Track Faces Opposition in Birmingham

Posted by on May 26, 2016 | Permalink

Protesters in greyhound masks are calling on Birmingham City Council to close down Hall Green Stadium.

Protest against greyhound races at Hall Green stadium

Today, we delivered a petition signed by more than 7,000 compassionate people in support of a planning application to demolish Hall Green Stadium and redevelop the site to provide much-needed new housing. A group of concerned locals as well as members of Birmingham Greyhound Protection joined us for the event, along with adorable rescued greyhounds Ruby, Linzy and Paddy!

Hall Green Stadium protest Birmingham

Hall Green Stadium currently hosts weekly greyhound races. But forcing dogs to race is deeply unethical. In addition to the many painful injuries dogs used in the racing industry can incur on the track, they’re usually kept locked in cages for 95 per cent of the time, often muzzled, and carted from race to race. Many of them exhibit crate and muzzle sores and suffer from infestations of internal and external parasites.

And when they’re no longer considered useful, these loyal dogs are often discarded like used betting slips. They may be abandoned, mutilated to remove identifying marks or even killed.

Greyhound Sad WAJo-Anne McArthur | We Animals

Ticket sales to greyhound races are dwindling, and stadiums are closing down across the country. We’re hopeful that Birmingham City planners will do right by both the dogs and the community by closing the stadium and promoting developments that will actually benefit Birmingham’s residents.

Thank you to everyone who spoke out for dogs and signed the petition – we’ll keep you posted on the outcome!