THANK goodness Oxford Stadium has now closed. More than 1,000 greyhounds have died on these tracks but no-one seems to care.

After reading the two articles in the Oxford Mail I don’t recall the greyhounds even being mentioned. What will happen to them? Will any kind readers adopt one? We can be sure that the racing industry will not be financing their retirement.

Many of these dogs are shipped off to Ireland, where they are raced until they drop, or are sent to Spain where they are used for hunting (the hunters then abandon or hang them, or even throw them down wells) or sent to vivisection laboratories.

For every greyhound that enters racing, another will not make the grade and is probably killed. The same fate awaits many other dogs that have competed on the track and most are not humanely put to sleep by a vet, but have their ears cut off and are then left to wander the streets.

Of about 17,900 greyhounds bred annually, only about 9,000 are considered suitable for racing. Those selected are generally kennelled for 23 hours a day, if not longer, with two dogs usually sharing one small kennel. Standards of kennels are invariably basic and muzzles are used as a long-term solution where fighting may occur.

Their racing career is normally terminated when three-four-years old, after competing in about 50 races. Length of career, however, can vary greatly and is frequently brought to an abrupt and sometimes horrific end through injury. Injuries sustained annually total five figures and result in hundreds of greyhounds being destroyed. An ever-increasing number of greyhounds are being homed independently by their trainer/owner without any concern for the animal’s future welfare.

The person who complained that: “Soon there will be nothing left to do in Oxford at all. Greyhounds was a good night out” sums up the selfish and ignorant mentality of those who patronise this cruel and vile industry.

SUSAN SMITH Banbury Road Oxford