TasRacing data obtained by the Greens under Right to Information reveals a disturbing number of dead ex-racing greyhounds in the past year, with many deceased for ‘unknown causes’.
A total of 24 deceased dogs are listed in the RTI, 19 of them since 1 January this year.
Eighteen of the deceased greyhounds were under six years of age, their lives shortened by an industry that treats them as a disposable commodity. Nine of the 24 listed dogs died of ‘unknown causes’, with a further 5 of unestablished cause.
Two of the dead dogs, trained by Anthony Bullock, apparently died in separate snake bite incidents. Seven of the dead dogs were in the custody of Mr Bullock at their time of death.
The TasRacing RTI doesn’t count Memphis Rains, the greyhound who injured her hock/ankle at Elwick in January this year and who was sent back to Victoria to be killed.
Nor does it count two other Tasmanian registered racing greyhounds who’ve died of unexplained causes in the past week. Lizzy Milici and Myall Clyde, were both a little over four years old.
The carnage on and off the track continues.
The RTI also shows 42 former racing dogs listed as ‘third party’ and ‘pet’, with no other detail. The bottom line is that TasRacing really has no idea what happened to those greyhounds. Some of them will almost certainly be dead.
The industry and its backers can pretend there are no welfare issues, but the data paints a more complete picture. It’s one of ongoing injury and death to beautiful, sentient animals being exploited for profit.
This is the information MLCs need to read and understand before they vote on the greyhound racing phase-out legislation when it returns to the Legislative Council.
