Animal Liberation Exposes Greyhound Conditions at Bullock Property in Exeter

Media release – Animal Liberation Tasmania, 2 August 2023

Drone footage from top Tassie greyhound trainer released

Animal Liberation Tasmania has released anonymously-provided footage, showing the conditions at top Tasmanian greyhound trainer Anthony Bullock’s facility in Exeter.

The footage shows greyhounds kept in freezing conditions with the barest minimum of protection, some without even coats or a blanket in sparse tin sheds. Shredded paper is offered as bedding to some, where others have nothing at all.

A pair of horses are also shown on the property, one in particular in poor condition. Also of concern, a small number of what appear to be small animal cages or traps on and around greyhound runs, their purpose unknown.

The footage also shows a ute filling up with animal refuse during the period of filming, with horse bones, skins, and a head being dumped alongside the corpse of a pademelon. Two other deceased pademelons were located to the rear of what appear to be dilapidated training runs.

Bullock is Tasmania’s leading greyhound trainer, but is also the most controversial, with numerous scandals associated with his name. He has also been visited numerous times by representatives from the Office of Racing Integrity, the RSPCA, and local council. Yet no action has been taken regarding conditions or other areas of concern.

Animal Liberation Tasmania condemns this system of exploitation, that views the lives and bodies of other animals as mere tools to be used for human profit. A system that is propped up by the Tasmanian tax payer to the tune of millions of dollars every year. A system the Tasmanian Liberals are committed to funding and supporting further.

Media release – Rosalie Woodruff MP, Greens Leader, 3 August 2023

Appalling Greyhound Conditions Need Independent Investigation

Footage released by Animal Liberation Tasmania of greyhounds living in appalling conditions is deeply disturbing and shows why we need to put an end to the greyhound racing industry once and for all. It’s also crucial for the Racing Minister to commission an independent investigation into the serious situation shown in this video.

The greyhound racing industry treats dogs as disposable profit machines, bred and kept alive – often in shocking conditions – solely to make money for a tiny number of people. This gruesome and disturbing footage once again shines a light on the cruelty and suffering at the heart of this outdated industry.

Greyhound racing has been made illegal in the ACT, in more than 40 states of the USA, and across other parts of the world. In Tasmania though, the industry is not only legal, it’s being propped up with tens of millions of dollars of taxpayer funds.

Despite repeated examples of gross animal abuses, this so-called ‘sport’ still enjoys the support of both the Liberal and Labor parties. Both of this state’s major political parties have shown time and again they’re more interested in propping up this industry than they are in the conditions being experienced by these gentle dogs every day, or in the terrible injuries and deaths caused by racing and training.

The shocking experience of animals captured in this footage demands urgent investigation, but given their track record we have no confidence in the Office of Racing Integrity’s ability to do this work. Instead the Minister must commission an independent investigation into potential breaches of the Animal Welfare Act, and stand down this trainer while that work occurs.

The Liberals have previously shown themselves unwilling to do even the bare minimum to address the animal cruelty inside the greyhound racing industry, but in the face of such distressing evidence we hope even this government will feel compelled to finally act.