Gervais joins campaign to stop greyhound exports

British actor and comedian Ricky Gervais has called for a ban on the export of Irish greyhounds to China, declaring that “every dog sent to Macau will die there.”
The well-known animal welfare supporter issued a plea to the Irish Government on May 14 to ban any further exports of the dogs after the 24 Irish greyhounds were stopped in Britain en route to the Macau Canidrome.
Speaking to the Irish Mail on Sunday, the actor urged the government to act now and ban the trade, the Independent reported.

Ricky Gervais

“If they are unconcerned about the agony that awaits these innocent animals then the Irish government will pay the price in terms of damage to its international reputation,” Gervais said.
An import of 24 Irish greyhounds was expected to arrive Macau on May 13, the Times reported. However, the arrival never came to fruition. “The export of the 24 dogs has been blocked in Manchester, after several rallies against it in Ireland and England,” local animal rights group Anima informed.
The Birmingham Greyhound Protection organization with the help of the “Caged North West” organization had previously reported that the greyhounds had been illegally transported from Ireland to England before they would be shipped to Macau via Hong Kong. At that time, the organization stated that among other mistreatments, the dogs had not been fed or watered for at least three days. RM