Greyhound killer in court

Slaughterer Smith to face enviro charge
Durham Magistrates, Friday, February 16th
Newly-formed GA branch to hold demo - please try to attend
Seaham Slaughterer David Smith is due to appear before North Durham magistrates
at 10am on Friday, February 16th, as a result of a private prosecution brought
by the Environment Agency.

The hearing had originally been listed for January 19th, but was adjourned for
legal reasons - see http://tinyurl.com/2q8yfs

Smith is accused of "depositing non-specific controlled waste without a licence"
on July 12, 2006 and the allegation relates to him burying dogs in a makeshift
graveyard behind his home in Northdene Terrace, Seaham, County Durham.

The case follows media revelations last July, that Smith had used a captive-bolt
pistol to shoot greyhounds, brought to him by trainers and others involved in
the greyhound racing industry, and then buried their bodies on his land. He was
said to have slaughtered 10,000 dogs over a 15 year period.
(See http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2272307,00.html
and http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,176-2272094,00.html)

It is disgraceful that Smith cannot be charged in connection with the actual
killing of the greyhounds, but, unfortunately, if suffering cannot be proved, it
is not illegal for a person to shoot a dog, if they have been given permission
to do so by the "owner".

It is also disgraceful that the greyhound racing industry itself is not in the
dock, accused of causing the mass-slaughter of the thousands of dogs it
callously discards every year, when they are no longer of any use as
money-making machines.

David Smith is, without doubt, an evil man, but those who run the dog racing
industry are even more evil, as it is their activities that allow characters
like him to flourish. Smith's greyhound-killing days have now come to an end,
but that does not mean that any dogs have been saved from slaughter, as the
"surplus" dogs he "disposed of" are now just being killed elsewhere.

That's why we feel it is important that our supporters do not get so overcome
with hatred for David Smith, that they lose sight of the fact that he is only a
minion and that it is the big bosses of the greyhound racing industry who are
the major enemy and that, until that industry is destroyed, many thousands of
greyhounds will continue to be put to death each year.

Greyhound Action North-East (GANE), a newly-formed GA branch, set up to cover
North-East England, are organising a demonstration outside the court, to draw
attention to the suffering and slaughter of dogs at the hands of the greyhound
racing industry and to call upon the public not to attend or bet on greyhound
racing, so that it withers away through lack of financial support.

The demo is due to start at 9.30am outside Durham Magistrates Court, Old Elvet,
Durham, DH1 3HW.

Maps of the location can be found at
http://tinyurl.com/ykjx2a
and
http://tinyurl.com/ylzra7

Please try to attend, especially if you live in or near the Co. Durham area. If
possible, please bring anti greyhound racing banners and placards - and rescued
greyhounds are very welcome.

If you are planning on being there, do please get in touch with GANE, so they
have some rough idea of numbers. Even if you aren't able to get to the demo,
please let them know if you would be interested in taking part in future events
in the North East. GANE can be contacted at
greyhoundaction_northeast@yahoo.co.uk
mailto:greyhoundaction_northeast%40yahoo.co.uk or on 07716 764816.

Photos above of demos at court appearances of another dog killer, South Wales
greyhound "executioner" Andrew Gough, eventually sentenced to six months jail.
Sadly, David Smith only faces a fine.

Please feel free to forward/crosspost/circulate this message.
Tony Peters, Greyhound Action
www.greyhoundaction.org.uk