With just two weeks of the new year elapsed, the cruelty at the heart of the greyhound industry has already been on full display.
In the six races so far this year, there have been 13 reported on-track injuries, one of which has resulted in the death of one of these beautiful animals.
It’s not just injuries on the track that are the issue with greyhound racing. It’s also what happens between races. On that front, 27 dogs have been scratched from races already this year due to injuries sustained off track. That’s 40 injured dogs in a fortnight.
And, a death TasRacing needs to explain.
Stewards’ reports show that at a race in Hobart last Thursday, Memphis Rains suffered a fractured right hock. Distressing footage shows the dog trying to complete the race, with its injured leg swinging awkwardly.
It just breaks the heart.
After initially being given a 90 day stand down by stewards, the dog’s status has now been listed as deceased. Why? Did the dog’s owner just decided they didn’t want to pay a vet’s bill?
Less than four years old, Memphis Rains was clearly regarded as disposable. TasRacing needs to explain why the decision was made to allow the dog to be killed over a treatable leg injury.
The death of Memphis Rains, and the rolling toll of injuries, again shows why it’s so urgent that Tasmania gets on with the job of banning greyhound racing.
Tragically, we know the trend of injury and death will continue – week in, week out – for as long as greyhound racing continues. There is simply no way this industry can operate without consistently inflicting harm on the innocent animals being used as tools to turn a profit.
Greyhound racing is outdated and cruel. At massive public expense it treats the lives of these gentle, sentient creatures as disposable.
That’s why, overwhelmingly, Tasmanians support the phase-out of greyhound racing.
