Dog imports to controversial Macau track see big drop

The number of greyhounds being imported to Macau to race at its dog track has fallen dramatically this year amid speculation it may soon cease operations.

In the eight months to the end of August, only 110 greyhounds were imported, compared with 248 in the same period last year and 228 in the first eight months of 2011, according to Hong Kong's Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.

All the greyhounds at the Canidrome - about 800 at a time - are imported from Australia via Hong Kong. A total of 378 dogs were imported to Macau last year to replace dogs destroyed by lethal injection when they could no longer race.

Animal-welfare groups want the Canidrome closed down, as it euthanises all its greyhounds once their short racing careers are over - usually within two or three years of arriving in Macau. Dogs are put down at the rate of about 30 a month. The arena has repeatedly rebuffed appeals for some greyhounds to be adopted to homes in Macau or Hong Kong when they stop racing.

An international campaign by animal-welfare groups was launched to close the Canidrome after an investigation in 2011 by .

Nearly all the dogs are healthy and only five or six years old when euthanised - usually after failing to be placed in two or three consecutive races.