Media release – Animal Liberation Tasmania, 18 April 2024

Tasmanian greyhound Hall of Famer discarding undesexed dogs via Gumtree

Animal Liberation Tasmania can reveal that Tasmanian greyhound breeder, owner, and trainer Barry Heawood has been discarding greyhounds for free via Gumtree without meeting mandatory rehoming rules.

This week, a member of the public (MOP) answered a Gumtree advert offering a greyhound for free by an owner, with the offer of $200 to ‘cover costs’.

The MOP was then passed from this owner to Trevor Cuttris, a known breeder and owner of greyhounds who works with Heawood. They were then passed through to Heawood, and invited to visit a Brighton property believed to be that of another trainer, Blake Pursell. It is unknown whether Pursell has been involved in the rehoming of greyhounds via Gumtree.

Upon arrival, the MOP became concerned over the seeming ease with which they were being enabled to take a greyhound, and began documenting. They return two days later for another dog. In all they uncovered:
– multiple outside sand based pens with no enrichment;
– inside kennels that were bare concrete, with no bedding, poor condition, and signs of dogs chewing their beds;
– greyhound 1 # Radio Signal: Victorian bred dog, desexed only recently, significant abdominal scarring that is inconsistent with desexing (unless cryptorchid) but not disclosed to MOP, had not completed their dental work, had not completed their 28-day wind down period;
– greyhound 2# Cheers to You: not desexed, no dental work, in good physical condition but very scared and timid, behaviourally would prove challenging to an inexperienced individual, had not completed their 28-day day wind down period.
– recordings that reveal multiple undesexed dogs have been given away by Heawood, including one female to people in Launceston, and another at a different time who may have been on heat at the time of rehoming;
– dogs given away on mere verbal assurance that new owners would attend veterinary appointments made by Heawood at a later date;
– admissions by Heawood to both persons that he knew he was breaking racing rules;

Animal Liberation Tasmania can confirm that both dogs the MOPs took into care are entirely safe and will receive all necessary veterinary work.

From conversations, it appears that greyhounds are being given away for free via private methods including Gumtree as trainers and owners are unable to access the Greyhound Adoption Program due to excessive wait times. Heawood also expressed frustrations with stand down periods, and Tasracing’s policies regarding reimbursement for veterinary treatment.

GAP currently has a waitlist dating back to July of last year, with trainers growing frustrated at the excessive wait times.

This is an industry leader admitting to MOPs that he knowingly flouts the rules, at a time when the industry knows it is under increased scrutiny. It highlights the abject inability of the Office of Racing Integrity and Tasracing to formulate and enforce policies that protect the interests of greyhounds discarded by the industry.

It is also further confirmation of the lack of safeguards for greyhounds following the tragic case of Zipping Princess, who was given away on Gumtree in extremely poor condition and ended up dying later of a pre-existing medical condition that was not disclosed to the MOP who received her.

This is an industry that cannot and will not protect the best interests of the dogs it exploits, as has been shown repeatedly. Newly reappointed Jane Howlett must act. Animal Liberation Tasmania demands an inquiry into the greyhound racing industry.

Featured image above: kennels at Brighton property used by Barry Heawood.

Abdominal injury, Radio Signal.