Macau Canidrome Closes 600 Gray Hounds to Relocate
Inside Asian Gaming, it was a low-key finale that reportedly saw around 300 people at the Macau Canidrome Club, which has been run by the Macau (Yatwen) Canidrome company since 1963.
The infamous Greyhound Racecourse located in Nosau Senhora de Fatima in Macau, China, will be closed, the Macau Game Inspection Coordinating Bureau (DICJ) has given the Canindrome a two-year period to close previously or completely. In addition, animal welfare standards must be significantly improved if relocation is chosen. Prior to this, the exclusive 10-year renewal granted to the company in 2005 expired and was given a one-year extension. It was the second extension, as the Minister of Economy and Finance amended the concession agreement between the Special Administrative Region of Macao and the company through Executive Order No. 76/2016, to extend the license.
In January this year, Angela Leung-on-K, co-chairman and executive director of SJM Holdings, confirmed that the facility would be permanently closed, not relocated, according to Inside Asia Gaming.
Canidrome's revenue has been declining for years, and a 2016 study of the track's performance showed that Greyhound Race's gross gaming revenue (GGR) decreased 13.8% year over year, from $145 million to $125 million. The study also acknowledged that "social expectations" about the treatment of animals are reportedly changing.
According to a February report by The New York Times, Desmond Lam, professor of International Integrated Resort Management at the University of Macau, said that increasing awareness of animal rights can help provide an explanation for the track's revenue decline.
Animal welfare advocates, such as Albano Martins, who runs Macau's Animal Protection Association, have reportedly been conveying concerns about the treatment of race dogs in the Canidrome, and have reportedly applauded the closure. The New York Times reported that a survey by Hong Kong's South China Morning Post found that about 30 of the race dogs performed poorly at the racecourse's dog kennels every month or were killed at the end of the race period. It is also known that more than 70 dogs are euthanized every year due to injuries.
Sources further reported that Anima conveyed concerns about the fate of more than 600 dogs currently living at the Canidrome's dog kennel.