Reports of greyhound Milton, formerly Midnight Grand, being up for adoption highlight the need to ban the brutish practice of tail-grabbing in the racing industry.
‘Tail-grabbing’ or ‘tail-lifting’ is rough, it’s cruel, and after it was exposed by animal welfare advocates in Victoria, it was banned.
Footage of a frightened Milton being lifted off the ground by his tail, and forced into the starting box by his trainer, was hard to watch. It certainly wasn’t, as industry voices so often claim, a greyhound who couldn’t wait to race.
Tail-grabbing is unnecessary and cruel, like greyhound racing itself. It exposes the industry for exactly what it is.
Following Milton’s race in May, the Greens raised ‘tail-grabbing’ at Budget Estimates with former Racing Minister, Jane Howlett. The former Minister, rightly called tail-grabbing ‘unacceptable’, and committed to action.
New Racing Minister, Roger Jaensch, needs to provide animal-loving Tasmanians with an assurance he will honour Ms Howlett’s commitment.
Given the Liberals’ humane policy to end greyhound racing on welfare grounds, tail-grabbing must be ended.
