THIS week (May 21- 29) is national Greyhound Awareness Week.

This is when greyhound lovers across the UK hold events in their local areas to highlight the plight of these dogs. Greyhound racing has been the topic of conversation recently, particularly with the worldwide campaign to stop the Irish Greyhound Board with their new and controversial proposal to establish greyhound racing in China. This is a country that has no animal welfare laws.

Greyhound racing began in the UK in 1926. Since then, thousands of greyhounds have been and are still destroyed every year ,once they are retired from racing, at an average age of three to four years old. Only the lucky few end up in rescue. Additionally, thousands of greyhound pups are destroyed each year because they are considered 'unsuitable for racing'. Many greyhounds every year also sustain serious, sometimes fatal, injuries while racing. We believe the people of this nation can help to put an end to all this unnecessary suffering greyhounds once and for all by simply boycotting what we regard as this shameful industry.

Greyhounds make the most wonderful companions and don't need a lot of exercise. Please consider adopting a greyhound from your local, responsible rescue. For more information visit www.greytexploitations.com.

HELEN STEVENS

South Devon Greyhound Action

Plymouth