Stop servicing Macau’s greyhound ‘hellhole’: global campaign to end transportation of racers to notorious Canidrome
Animal rights activists urge Lufthansa to stop transporting dogs that will race in Macau – but airline says it does not have responsibility
Irish animal rights activists have launched a petition calling on German airline Lufthansa to stop transporting greyhounds to Macau via Hong Kong.
As of yesterday afternoon, they had gathered some 48,200 supporters.
But the airline told the Post that it does not take responsibility for the purpose for which animals are transported.
The petition, to Lufthansa’s CEO Carsten Spohr, read: “Greyhound advocates across the world are unreservedly appalled that nine Irish greyhounds have been sent to Macau to be raced at the notorious Canidrome Stadium, which has been referred to across the board as ‘a hellhole’ for greyhounds in terms of overall welfare.”
Since early this year, the Canidrome in Macau reportedly received nine greyhounds from Ireland, following a ban from Australia at the end of last year.
Greyhounds enter Macau via Hong Kong, then they are shipped to the former Portuguese enclave.
The news sparked demonstrations in London, Dublin and Milan. Concerns have now grown with rumours that 24 more dogs would be sent to Macau.
The petition, launched by the Dogs Trust, the ISPCA and the Irish Blue Cross, prompted widespread criticism of Lufthansa for transporting the animals to Hong Kong.
A spokesman for Lufthansa said: “We are not able to provide any binding determination nor take responsibility for the purpose for which animals are making their journey.”
The spokesman said they “take notice of the many campaigns run by proponents of animal and environmental conservation”.
“Should we become aware of any abuse in terms of keeping these animals, we regularly report this to the competent authorities,” he said.
In December last year, Qantas announced it was going to cease racing greyhound freight services to Asia, and Cathay Pacific said they did not transport the animals.
“Our aim is to see Ireland banning the exportation of greyhounds to Macau … If that
happened, the Canidrome would probably close down in six months’ time,” said Albano Martins, president of Anima – the Society for the Protection of Animals, a group based in Macau.
The Canidrome, Asia’s only greyhound track, holds a licence until December this year.
The Canidrome did not respond to the Post’s queries.
