Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

Trainer Jailed for Drug Offences

~ NEWS ~ 

13.04.09

A former ‘professional’ greyhound trainer attached to Newcastle stadium, has been jailed for 10 years for supplying cocaine and amphetamine – the second trainer in just over 6 months to be imprisoned for drug offences.

An article in the local press covering the court proceedings, reported Brian Stirling as a ‘respected greyhound racer’ – this is wholly inaccurate and far from the truth.

Brian Stirling was in fact subject to a National Stewards Inquiry on July 12th 2007 where he was found guilty of doping a greyhound – Hillfire Utah – with methylprednisolone. Although not an illegal substance, methylprednisolone is used to mask injuries and the consequences of racing a greyhound whilst the injury is masked can prove fatal for that dog.

Astonishingly, under the Rules of Racing, doping your greyhound is NOT considered a welfare issue for that animal but merely an issue of integrity whereby illegal gambling practices could be in force. As a result of the inquiry, Brian Stirling was warned off all licensed race tracks and fined £1,000. A punishment which was deemed too severe for the five trainers found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to greyhounds during 2008.

Another ‘professional’ trainer Graham Calvert, who last year attempted to sue William Hill for failing to prevent him from gambling, was also subject to two separate National Stewards Inquiries in 2006 for doping his greyhound – Tweedale Scott – with methylprednisolone. A more lenient punishment of a severe reprimand and £700 fine was served on Calvert. 

As with Stirling, Calvert’s criminal activities led him to court and in 2008 he was jailed for firearms and drugs offences, including possession of cocaine.

Greyhound racing provides an ideal environment for the criminal elements of society to profit from the misuse of drugs.

Please click here to read the related articles.

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2009/04/09/drugs-quartet-jailed-for-total-of-22-years-84229-23351019/ 

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-evening-chronicle/2008/10/21/2m-gambling-addict-jailed-over-gun-offences-72703-22084221/

http://greytexploitations.com/resources-and-reports/trainer-jailed-for-drug-offences

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Having been with us for nearly two months, Chewy, Stany and Moyale were finally flown on Friday, 3 April to the Wales Ape and Monkey Sanctuary in the UK. 

Wales Ape and Monkey Sanctuary Web Site – http://www.cefn-yr-erw.co.uk/  and http://www.cefn-yr-erw.co.uk/news.htm

After suffering in the zoo for years with inadequate food and care, in tiny cages under the winter rains and scorching summer sun, Animals Lebanon is finally giving these monkeys the second chance at life they so deserve.
 
MEA generously agreed to fly specially designed crates to transport the monkeys from London to Beirut, and to send the crated monkeys safely from Beirut to London.
 
“Middle East Airlines is a friendly airline to the environment in which it operates and takes special safe care in transporting live animals.  This special care emanates from its belief to preserve the ecological balance in nature and to help in preserving rare species in the animal kingdom,” said Mohammed El-Hout, the CEO of MEA.
 
Chewy is a small female Mona monkey who quickly became a favorite.  As she was so small and sick when we took her from the zoo we decided it was best to keep her indoors where we could watch her closely.  While we don’t believe people should have monkeys or any other wild animals in their homes, this was only a very temporary arrangement until everything could be arranged with the sanctuary.  A special cage was built just for her and she stayed in the house of one of the founders of AL.  She quickly came around and showed her personality, and each week she surprised us by making new sounds and calls and developed a love for roasted chestnuts.
 
Stany and Moyale are two adult male Hamadryas baboons.  Mona monkeys like Chewy are normally found in the rain forests of West Africa, while Hamadryas baboons are found in the Horn of Africa and parts of the Middle East.  These baboons used to be revered in the Middle East, often referred to as Sacred baboons, and were depicted in ancient Egyptian art.  Sadly, they are now regularly found being abused in substandard zoos and attractions or being sold in pet shops.
 
Animal Encounter, a Lebanese nonprofit working to advance the understanding of local wildlife, cared for Stany and Moyale since we rescued them from the zoo.
 
Animals Lebanon also welcomed Pamela Anderson, one of the world’s best known animal rights representatives, on March 13th.  Pamela was happy to meet with Lana El-Khalil, the President of Animals Lebanon, and she strongly conveyed her backing of our efforts and offered a generous donation.
 
All primates are endangered, and there are laws which should prevent them from being smuggled and sold.  Even though Animals Lebanon is a registered charity and the monkeys were being sent to a sanctuary which follows strict regulations, there is a huge amount of paperwork to be able to move the monkeys legally.
 
“These primates are highly endangered and protected under CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, which should have prevented them from being smuggled to Lebanon in the first place.  They were forced, illegally, out of their natural habitat, smuggled to Lebanon through the black market, and then displayed at this dysfunctional zoo,” said Lana El-Khalil.  “Lebanon is one of the few countries which has not become part of CITES.  It is time Lebanon takes the ethical and legal stand to ban such abusive and outdates practices.”

Click here to view a slide show of pictures.

Animals Lebanon – https://www.animalslebanon.org/

Congratulation Animals Lebanon ! – SAV

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