Victory: Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium to Close Following Campaign by PETA and Others

For Immediate Release:

22 August 2016

Contact:

Jennifer White +44 (0) 20 7837 6327, ext 222; [email protected]

VICTORY: WIMBLEDON GREYHOUND STADIUM TO CLOSE FOLLOWING CAMPAIGN BY PETA AND OTHERS

London Mayor Hands Decision to Merton Council, Which Plan To Transform One of Nation’s Oldest Dog-Racing Tracks Into Modern Football Stadium

London – Following a massive campaign by animal-protection groups and members of the local community – including an almost Mayor of London Sadiq Khan gave the go-ahead for Merton Council to approve a planning application submitted by AFC Wimbledon and Galliard Homes that will close Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium and transform it into the new home of Wimbledon football as well as build new flats for local residents.

“Finally, this old dog-racing track will be turned into a new state-of-the-art football stadium that will give attendees what they want, and that’s compelling sports that feature only willing participants”, says PETA Senior Campaign Coordinator Kirsty Henderson. “Greyhound racing is on its last legs as more and more people learn that the industry exploits dogs as mere moneymaking machines and breeds them for speed at the expense of their health, strength, and stamina.”

Many greyhound puppies are killed in the name of “selective breeding” and never make it to the racetrack, and dogs who do qualify to become racers are typically caged and muzzled by their trainers and suffer from crate and muzzle sores as well as infestations of internal and external parasites. Once their racing days are over, many dogs are discarded. Some have their ears cut off to remove identifying tattoos and are then abandoned or killed.

As PETA – whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment” – pointed out in its petition to the Merton Council, ticket sales for greyhound races have plummeted as modern audiences realise that dogs suffer when they’re exploited for profit.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.uk.

#