Raising a chorus to end greyhound racing

A rally planned for Salamanca Lawns on Sunday 7 February (11am-12noon) will raise a chorus to end to greyhound racing in Tasmania.

Hobart/United States musician Ross Sermons will get the crowd singing ‘Let greyhounds run free’, a tune he wrote for the rally.

The Hobart Rally to End Greyhound Racing builds on growing public awareness of animal cruelty in the greyhound racing industry, and worldwide calls for greyhound racing to end.

On the speakers’ platform will be greyhound owner and director of Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, Greg Irons, and leader of the Tasmanian Greens and chair of the Joint Select Committee on Greyhound Racing in Tasmania, Cassy O’Connor MP.

‘We don’t live in a time in which we need to make animals run and place money on them to have fun,’ Greg Irons says.

‘We now know about the way some greyhounds are kept and trained, and the sheer amount that are euthanised, simply because they can’t run fast enough.

‘Greyhounds have the most beautiful temperament and amazing personalities: I’ve yet to meet an aggressive one. They are great town dogs because they sleep all day, and absolutely fantastic ‘lap dogs’.

‘They are the most gorgeous, gorgeous animals on the planet and I think once you meet one you can’t help but reconsider greyhound racing and whether it’s something that should happen.’

Under Tasmania’s Animal Welfare Act 1993, greyhound racing is classified as a livestock industry in which excess or cull animals can be disposed of by euthanasia or slaughter.

Hobart rally coordinator, Fran Chambers, says the racing industry treats greyhounds as disposable goods.

‘Each year, the Australian industry breeds some 20,000 greyhounds and kills an estimated 18,000. Eight thousand pups and young dogs never make it to the track,’ she says.

‘Only 121 of the 607 Tasmanian greyhounds that exited racing in 2013/2014 were rehomed: 486 were killed. Half of the pups born in 2015 were not even named.

‘For the eight weeks to 24 December 2015, Tasmanian racing stewards reported 78 pre-race injuries, 31 cases of pre-race illness, 51 racing injuries, seven pre-race deaths and three deaths at races.

‘Hundreds of greyhounds are exported from Australia to race in places such as Macau, where there are no animal welfare laws.’

Australia is one of eight countries that permit commercial greyhound racing, which, worldwide, is an industry in decline.

Dog racing is illegal in 39 states of the US, and has ceased in a further five. Tracks in the United Kingdom are also beginning to close.

Tasmania’s Joint Select Committee on Greyhound Racing will report to Parliament by 31 March 2016. A similar inquiry is being held in New South Wales, where the Greyhound Racing Prohibition Bill soon will be introduced by Greens MP John Kaye.

More information: www.letgreyhoundsrunfree.net.au

Let greyhounds run free music video: https://youtu.be/SzEBMrVc2c

Let greyhounds run free on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Let-greyhounds-run-free-425546354301519/
Fran Chambers