Media release – Animal Liberation Tasmania, 25 September 2024
ANIMAL LIBERATION TASMANIA LAUNCH THE ‘BAD APPLES’ GREYHOUND RACING REPORT
Today, Animal Liberation Tasmania are releasing a one year review of their findings into the greyhound racing industry in Tasmania, supported by Cassy O’Connor MLC, Kristie Johnston MP, and Federal MP Andrew Wilkie.
Encompassing our findings following a year of investigations, including drone footage and undercover work as well as the tracking of greyhounds on and off the track, this report is a damning insight into the greyhound industry.
KEY POINTS:
– 5% of all greyhounds raced in Tasmania in the prior season (1/8/23-31/7/24) are now listed as deceased
– 50% of those deaths are related to injuries sustained on track, on private straight tracks, and at trials
– 50% of listed deceased greyhounds died under the age of 3 years old
– 63 Tasmanian raced or Tasmanian bred greyhounds have died in this period (both in Tasmania and interstate), due to injuries, racing-related illness (exertional rhabdomyolysis), and multiple dog attacks. ALT knows there are more specifically in Tasmania but have not been able to identify roughly 30 further dogs according to ORI quarterly breeding and retirement reports.
The report includes:
– Reviews into 19 training properties across Tasmania
– Uncovers the working relationship between a Tasmanian trainer and an extreme greyhound abuse case in VIC/SA which resulted in the deaths of multiple greyhounds
– Delves into concerns regarding practices at GAP Tasmania including documentation of working group meetings and emails
– Statistics relating to causes of deaths, injuries, and the transfer of dogs across the country
– A full list and racing history of all 748 greyhounds raced in the 23/24 season
– A full list and racing history of all dogs who sustained a serious injury on track
– The individual stories of three dogs rescued through ALT investigations
– Uncovers the relationship between the horse racing industries (flats and trots) and the feeding of greyhounds through private slaughter
This nearly-200-page document, complete with images, is the first independent audit of the greyhound racing industry to be released of its kind in Tasmania.
“What we have provided here is the side of the industry you won’t read in Tasracing’s annual reports or their commissioned IER reports. The ‘Bad Apples’ report by ALT tells the stories of the dogs themselves, what they endure, how they are so basely exploited for gambling profits and greed.
“This is the report the public needs to read, as the primary sponsors of the racing industry through the nearly $40 million we pay to prop it up. The taxpayer deserves to know the truth, not be supplied with what are essentially glossy marketing brochures from Tasracing.” -Kristy Alger, ALT spokesperson.
Read the full report here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EEelKhnmwQHAJIatB0wKPzSBKwzY8KYZ/view
Cassy O’Connor MLC, Greens Animal Rights spokesperson, 25 September 2024
Animal Liberation Tas report highlights ugly truth of a year in greyhound racing
Animal Liberation Tasmania’s report, ‘A Few Bad Apples’, paints a terrible – and accurate – picture of the greyhound industry in Tasmania. It details the neglect and cruelty inflicted on these gentle dogs, more than half of whom don’t make it past three years of age.
The report also details a litany of breaches of rules, and mega-trainers that are too big to fail.
This is greyhound racing in lutruwita/Tasmania.
This brutal industry relies on cruelty, pain and suffering, and the regular premature deaths of dogs injured or discarded once their profit-making days are over. This all happens on the public purse.
ALT compiled government data, and the statistics in the report are confronting. More than 5% of the nearly 750 dogs raced between August 2023 and July 2024 are dead, and half of the died at three years old or younger.
It tells the story of gentle dogs passed from trainer to trainer, raced until they are injured or surplus to need. Then they are killed, set aside for breeding, forgotten – or, if they’re very lucky, rehomed.
When presented with the report, the Racing Minister obfuscated about the state of the industry. One good thing, however, was Minister Howlett’s commitment to prohibiting greyhounds being sold or given away on Gumtree.
While it’s impossible to remove all cruelty from an industry that relies upon it, this is a modest but reform.
The Greens will not stop fighting for the end of greyhound racing. We want to see these beautiful dogs run free.
