(VN) Greyhound Racing Industry in Vietnam

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Animals Asia Foundation Report

 

Greyhound Racing Industry in Vietnam

 

2nd November 2002

 

AAF - Vietnam Background

 

Animals Asia investigators have been visiting Vietnam since 1999.

Vietnam currently has no animal welfare legislation. Animal welfare

issues documented by Animals Asia in Vietnam are the illegal trade in

wildlife, the illegal farming of Asiatic black bears for bile, and the

slaughter and consumption of dogs.

 

Dog eating is mainly prevalent in the north of Vietnam. Hanoi has a

street dedicated to dog meat restaurants. However dog meat stalls had

been previously witnessed in the south, in Ho Chi Minh City.

 

 

Greyhound Industry in Vietnam

 

Ba Ria Vung Tau Tourist Corporation in a joint venture with an Australian

Company Hemlock Services, have established Sports & Entertainment Services

Co Ltd (SES). SES has established the greyhound racing industry in

Vietnam. They built Lam Son Stadium in Vung Tau and a greyhound

breeding/training facility in nearby Ba Ria.

 

Vung Tau City is a popular beachside resort, 2 ½ hours drive from Ho Chi

Minh City.

 

Posters promote greyhound racing in hotels in Vung Tau and one advertising

billboard was observed. Racing is conducted on Saturday nights between 7

pm and 10 pm.

 

Animals Asia was made aware of a report by Cyndi Napolitan from November

2001 at http://www.globalgreyhounds.com/vietnam/vietnam.htm . This

report and photos were viewed by many with a degree of scepticism. Some

doubt has been expressed as to whether this article and photographs were a

true indication of the day-to-day running of the new facility.

 

As a result of concerns expressed by the International Greyhound Alliance,

and Animals Australia (ANZFAS) at the exportation of greyhounds from

Australia to Vietnam, Animals Asia investigators visited Vung Tau on the

2nd November 2002.

 

Visit to Greyhound breeding facility - Ba Ria

 

Saturday 2nd November 2002

 

After unsuccessfully trying to arrange a formal visit through a local

contact, an unannounced visit was made to this facility with a Vietnamese

interpreter. The breeding/training facility is located in the township

of Ba Ria about 30 kilometres from Vung Tau City.

 

The facility covers many hectares. A high perimeter fence and front

gates secure it. Two Vietnamese staff monitor the entrance.

 

My interpreter conveyed that I was visiting from Australia and was

interested in greyhound racing. The attendant rode off on his pushbike to

convey my request to management and returned and opened the gates to allow

our vehicle to drive to the facility.

 

Driving to the office complex I observed greyhounds being walked on leads

around a large lake.

 

I also observed a greyhound being exercised on a lead in a single lane

25-metre swimming pool.

 

I was met by and received a warm welcome from Mr Hai - the assistant

manager. Mr Hai speaks perfect English and is well educated. He is an

Australian Vietnamese. The overall manager is also Vietnamese, Mr Nguyen

and is based in Australia.

 

Mr Hai introduced me to Mr Ngoc, the kennel manager. Mr Ngoc also speaks

perfect English. He had spent 15 years in Australia. He was also very

friendly and welcoming.

 

I spent the next 45 minutes with Mr Ngoc - who showed me all areas of the

facility, and willingly responded to my questions.

 

My overall observations confirmed that the images displayed at

http://www.globalgreyhounds.com/vietnam/vietnam.htm accurately depict this

facility. It is obvious that no expense was spared in its creation. The

welfare and physical health of the dogs appears to have been given serious

consideration.

 

Staff were observed displaying affection towards the dogs, and the dogs

were obviously happy in their presence. The individual long kennel

compounds house approximately 30 dogs and each has four permanent staff

assigned to care for the dogs. Dogs all have canvas sack beds imported

from Australia, runs were clean, had an indoor and outdoor area and all

had fresh water. A water spray system is available on hot days to dogs

in the outdoor section.

 

There are currently have four hundred greyhounds on site. Two hundred

and forty dogs were originally brought from Australia and New Zealand in

1999. The intention is to continue breeding Greyhounds in Vietnam and

not import further greyhounds. Currently in Vung Tau they are restricted

to racing once a week due to available dogs - and intentions are also to

expand the industry into other areas of Vietnam.

 

All dogs on site are owned by SES Corporation - dogs cannot be

privately owned. The long term goal is to have a greyhound track in

every city in Vietnam. Currently they have submitted an application to

the Vietnam government to create their second track/stadium in Hai Phong.

 

There are 50 permanent staff at this facility - many who live on

site. There are 3 permanent Veterinary surgeons, one Australian trained,

and two locally trained.

 

Information provided by Mr Ngoc is that the oldest dogs bred on the

facility are now 15 months old. Litters bred remain together in group

housing until 11 months old - and have a permanent large exercise run.

At 11 months old racing training commences. Dogs are first raced at 15

months old.

 

Dogs are raced for 3 weeks and then have the 4th week off. There are 10

races on Saturday nights - 8 dogs per race. Decisions as to placement

of dogs in races are made by SES head office in HCM City depending on the

results of the previous week, injuries, and dogs being rested.

 

All individually kennelled dogs that do not have access to exercise runs

are walked for 4 kms each morning around the lake.

 

I observed kennelled dog areas, the group housing of young dogs, and 3

bitches with pups separately housed.

 

I was shown the large kitchen compound where food was being prepared for

the evening feed. The kitchen was well organised and spotlessly clean.

All dog dinners were being prepared in stainless steel bowls. The dogs

are fed on a premium brand Canadian dry dog food (it would appear that

they are part sponsors from signage at stadium) and kangaroo meat,

imported by the container load from Australia. Food is stored in a large

freezer room.

 

Whilst not an expert in this area - my observations of the on site

veterinary hospital was that it is extremely well equipped, and again, was

spotlessly clean. This area contains offices for the vets, a large

examination and treatment room, a separate operating theatre, and a large

and well stocked drug room. All records relevant to individual dogs are

kept on file. I met two of the vets who were entering data onto computer

records. All dogs are microchipped.

 

 

 

Racing - Lam Son Stadium

 

Dogs are conveyed to the racetrack on Saturday evenings in individual

cages on a large air-conditioned bus

 

By any country's standards the Lam Son stadium is impressive. On this

particular night there was 2 to 3 thousand people in attendance. In

holiday season there can be 7 to 8 thousand people. Many people seemed

just to be spectating - few seemed to be placing bets. The racing is

videoed and played on close circuit TV monitors around the stadium -

betting odds are displayed on these same monitors.

 

The cost of entrance to the stadium is 10,000 VND for general areas,

20,000 VND for the grandstand and 50,000 VND for the VIP air-conditioned

enclosed viewing area.

(US $1 = 15,325 VND)

 

In a preparation area dogs are allowed to stretch etc prior to races and

are microchip scanned. Dogs then have their numbers tied on and are

paraded in front of the crowd on 3 occasions before a race. All aspects

of this handling, plus the placing of dogs in the starting gates, were

being performed with care.

 

However, it was disturbing to observe one particular Greyhound exhibiting

obvious fear and an unwillingness to be part of proceedings. When placed

in the starting box he repeatedly barked in distress and scratched at the

door. He performed poorly in the race.

 

Dogs were washed down after races and rubbed dry with towels. I

observed that the two vets that I had met at the breeding facility were

both at the racetrack.

 

Officials with hand held radios were controlling timing of activities and

races.

 

 

 

Fate of unwanted Greyhounds

 

Aside from ascertaining the level of care and well being of the dogs - a

priority was to assess the likelihood of Greyhounds ending up in the food

trade.

 

I spoke with Kennel manager Mr Ngoc about this issue.

 

I was advised that dogs are raced to the age of 5 years old.

 

Mr Ngoc's response to my query as to what happened to the dogs once their

racing life was complete - was that they try to find good homes for

them, and if they can't they are euthanised by injection. I was

informed that dogs made available for adoption are all spayed -

" because we don't want to cause a problem by having greyhounds

everywhere " .

 

On face value - it would seem to be done purely through a sense of

responsibility, and this may be the case. However, it could be

suggested that this measure also ensures that SES maintains total control

of this fledgling industry in Vietnam.

 

Based on local knowledge in Vietnam, and information gained as a result of

this investigation, I feel that there is minimal possibility of Greyhounds

ending up in the dog meat trade.

 

My reasons are as follows:

 

1/ From my observation - every aspect of SES's operations from the

breeding facility to building of Lam Son Stadium have been created with

total professionalism. One might even suggest that the extremes of care

taken in every aspect of this new industry in Vietnam, may well be as a

result of being aware that establishing such an industry in a dog eating

country would face criticism.

 

In what is obviously a multimillion-dollar investment for SES it is

difficult to imagine that they would place the reputation at risk by

selling off unwanted Greyhounds for what would amount to a few dollars.

 

2/ Vung Tau City does have one dog meat restaurant. However there is a

preference for young dogs in Vietnam, and there is no shortage of young

dogs to meet current needs whether in Vung Tau, or in other areas of

Vietnam. In those areas where dog eating is predominant, it is common for

families to keep one dog as a pet and then sell the puppies to restaurants

or keep for personal consumption.

 

My observations of the Vung Tau dog restaurant and dogs that had met

their fate, or were waiting to - was that they were serving young

dogs. Ironically premises on both sides of the restaurant were observed

to have well fed and seemingly contented dogs interacting with their

owners. On a practical level, greyhounds because of their age and lithe

physical appearance may not be attractive to dog meat vendors' even if

made available. Also it would seem that Greyhounds are being afforded a

level of respect not given to local dogs, through being involved in an

industry that in Vietnam is seen as unique and exciting.

 

 

3/ Perhaps the most positive aspect witnessed both at the

breeding/training facility and also at the racetrack was the interaction

and relationship between the staff and the dogs. The system established

by the breeding centre ensures a degree of one to one care on a daily

basis. Staff showing affection to dogs was witnessed on a number of

occasions. This bond with day to day staff, combined with the fact that

the management of this facility are Vietnamese that have been educated

overseas, and have spent considerable time in western countries - would

also decrease the likelihood of Greyhounds ending up at restaurants.

 

 

Summary

 

The Animals Asia Foundation is opposed to Greyhound Racing in any country.

 

Greater concerns had been raised for Greyhounds in Vietnam due to the lack

of animal welfare legislation, and in the knowledge that some members of

Vietnamese society consume dogs as a food source.

 

My visit to the breeding/training facility at Ba Ria was unannounced,

therefore allaying concerns that it may be " tidied " up in preparation. My

overall assessment of this facility is that it is professionally run, and

the standard of care and housing is high. In Vietnam, such a facility,

and level of care of animals, is unprecedented.

 

The undisputed negative factors remain, that these animals are being

exploited for commercial gain, local people through this industry are

being exploited through being encouraged to gamble, and regardless of the

minimal prospect that Greyhounds will end up as a food source, the reality

remains that more dogs will be euthanised than find good homes, once they

have outlived their usefulness.

 

 

 

 

Lyn White

Regional Director (Aus/NZ) /Vietnam Representative

Animals Asia Foundation