Macau’s gaming regulator has vetoed an application by Macau (Yat Yuen) Canidrome Co Ltd for a 120-day extension on the use of facilities at its controversial dog racing track, ruling that the company must completely vacate the premises by the original 20 July deadline for closure.
The Canidrome, owned by SJM Co-Chairman and Executive Director Angela Leong, had requested the extension earlier this week in order to provide more time to find homes for the 650 greyhounds in its care.
But after forwarding Macau (Yat Yuen) Canidrome Co Ltd’s documents to the Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau for consideration, the DICJ issued a statement on Thursday declaring that no extension would be granted.
“After comprehensive consideration, the DICJ has decided to veto,” the regulator said. “The DICJ reiterates that the dog club must move out of the original site no later than 20 July 2018.”
The DICJ made no comment on a secondary proposal by Macau (Yat Yuen) Canidrome Co to use empty stables at Macau Jockey Club for the temporary housing of greyhounds, having previously stated that an application must be made “by Macau Jockey Club to the authority for the supervision of land use and must be approved by the authority responsible for animal protection and management.”
However, it did issue a scathing assessment of the Canidrome’s performance, stating that it failed to live up to the public’s animal welfare expectations and that “other regions have gradually stopped dog racing activities.”
The DICJ added that dog racing didn’t contribute to Macau’s push to become the world center for tourism and leisure, while it called a plan touted by Macau (Yat Yuen) Canidrome Co Ltd in June 2017 to replace local greyhound races with live broadcasts of overseas races and virtual races as changing “the leisure and tourism elements of the dogs into pure gambling activities, failing to comply with the SAR Government’s responsible gambling policy.”
According to the Canidrome, only 127 adoption requests for its greyhounds have been received so far.
