Dr WOODRUFF (Franklin – Leader of the Greens) – Thank you, Honourable Speaker. I rise tonight to put on the record the Green’s deep concerns for the welfare of two greyhounds, Elko and Pop’s Girl. Both dogs were seriously injured in the last race at Elwick on 20 August. The stewards’ report from the night says;
Pop’s Girl was severely checked but completed the race. A post‑race veterinary examination revealed a fractured distal left radius and ulna and some minor abrasions. The greyhound has been stood down from racing for 90 days. Elko was severely checked and failed to complete the race. Post‑veterinary examination revealed a fracture of the right radius and ulnar. The greyhound has been stood down from racing for 90 days.
This very recent incident at Elwick is even more proof that greyhound racing is not safe for dogs. On 8 January this year, a dog called Memphis Rains suffered similar injuries and was similarly stood down for 90 days. Memphis Rains was then sent back to Victoria, where she was killed. There have been at least more than a hundred on‑track injuries since the start of the year. Many dogs have died as a result of this cruel, exploitative and totally mendicant industry, just like Memphis Rains has.
Both Elko and Pop’s Girl fractured bones in the race and were stood down from racing for three months. Countless dogs have been put to death after breaking their fragile bones, and this is just one of the many reasons that Tasmanians overwhelmingly opposed greyhound racing and want an end to it. The stewards report from 20 August is the last official record that we have of Elko and Pop’s Girl. As we understand it, media outlets followed it up with Tasracing but got no response.
Why wouldn’t Tasracing come clean on the fate of these two injured dogs? What’s stopping them? Why wouldn’t they confirm if Elko and Pop’s Girl received the vet treatment they deserved and desperately needed? Was it immediate? Are they being allowed to recover? Will they be forced to race again? No official record from the industry body despite clear public interest on the matter because of, as I said, the hundreds of dogs which are killed every week. We did however get a statement from a mainland‑based lobby group called Greyhounds Tasmania and their media release said:
Both greyhounds received immediate veterinary attention at the track before undergoing further assessment and treatment for their injuries. Their veterinary treatment has been supported through Tasracing’s Greyhound Recovery Rebate Scheme, which provides financial assistance towards veterinary treatment and rehabilitation for racing greyhounds.
Isn’t that interesting? Their treatment was covered by Tasracing, but apparently Tasracing has nothing to say about it. Don’t worry, the statement also says:
Pop’s Girl and Elko are now recovering with their respective trainers and are in good spirits as they continue their rehabilitation.
I guess that’s it then. Nothing to see here. A lobby group claims that they’re all fine and dandy after their serious broken legs. They said Greyhounds Tasmania will continue to support the connections of Pop’s Girl and Elko through their recovery and wishes both greyhounds well with their rehabilitation. ‘Their connections’, what does it even mean? Where’s the transparency here? We keep being told the industry’s clean and it has nothing to hide, but they keep hiding things. What we know is this: no dog deserves this fate. Every dog deserves a loving home, and greyhounds are in the end, just beautiful, gentle dogs. They deserve better.
