Information compiled by animal rights and greyhound welfare groups confirms 27 greyhounds, who raced on a Tasmanian track in the 23/24 season, have already died – including one sent through the Greyhound Adoption Program.
The information also confirms three other GAP dogs, who were in the rehoming facility for some time, have also been killed. There is also the terrible case of Zipping Princess, who died after being given away on Gumtree.
This the brutal, everyday reality of the greyhound racing industry – dozens of dogs dying every year, often in the most traumatic of circumstances, and all of it massively publicly subsidised by the Rockliff minority government with Labor’s support.
As is too often the case, many of these gentle dogs died at or after race or trial accidents. One gut wrenching example is that of Don’t Tell Margy – a two year old girl, who ran into a pole on the track, suffered a brain injury, and died of cardiac arrest early the next morning. There was no mention of veterinary attention on her records.
When we asked in Parliament today how, when presented with the fatality figures, Minister Howlett again claimed all industry participants loved their animals. Ms Howlett presumptively claimed the deaths would have been heartbreaking for owners and trainers.
Of the 27 dogs who’ve died, there are 24 separate owners and 22 greyhounds had been passed from one trainer to another.
The cruelty within the greyhound racing industry is not just down to a few bad apples, it’s cultural and systemic. It treats sentient animals as money-making machines which are ultimately disposable.
Tasmanians can’t have faith in the Liberals’ new racing framework and standards without an acknowledgement the industry treats slow, surplus or injured dogs and horses as wastage.
If Jane Howlett can’t recognise or acknowledge the cultural problems, how can the community believe she wants to solve them?
