Industry can emerge stronger and better from latest scandal

BY NATURE, greyhounds are predators. It’s their instinct to chase, catch and kill.

This natural tendency was widely put to use in Australia starting in the 1860s and continuing until live coursing was made illegal in 1985.

Since then, it appears the authorities have turned a blind eye to the fact some trainers within the sport still use live baiting as a method of training their greyhounds to chase the lure.

The live-baiting issue has burst back into the spotlight during the past week. Five properties were raided last week by the RSPCA in conjunction with the police in Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales after Four Corners, which was working with Animals Australia and the Animal Liberation Queensland, presented the results of an investigation into greyhound racing to the state-based RSPCAs.

The raids have resulted in 23 people being stood down immediately, with desperate calls from the RSPCA and animal welfare groups to put an end to the sport. To make matters even worse, the industry’s darkest secret is set to be exposed on a gritty episode of the ABC’s Four Corners program titled “Making A Killing”.

The question that needs to be asked is how can the respective greyhound racing authorities have stood back for so long and let it continue? Surely they would have known the live-baiting problem still existed. Now it has been neglected for so long the RSPCA has dragged the industry’s skeletons out of the closet and into the spotlight for mainstream media and a horrified public audience to gawk at.

It is not good enough.

There is no denying it is a serious issue and GRNSW alone invested $1.3 million into welfare during the 2014 financial year – so shouldn’t this have been something that was investigated heavily?

How can authority bodies that are meant to be devoted to integrity and welfare be upstaged by outsider groups that have invested far less time and money before finding a much bigger problem?

Australian Racing Greyhound attempted to contact CEOs Brent Hogan (GRNSW) and Adam Wallish (GRV), to ask why proactive action had not been taken prior to the RSPCA and ABC jumping on board, but they were not willing to make additional comments relating to our questions.

Participants have the right to be angry. Not everyone does the wrong thing, but now everyone will be tarred with the same brush as headlines emerge left, right and centre that are essentially accusing the whole industry of being guilty of the actions of a few.

If the problem had been properly handled by the authorities earlier, surely it would not have spiralled out of control and into the public eye like it has.

One trainer expressed to me that live-baiting was comparable to drink-driving – even though some do it, they know it is wrong. If you get caught, bad luck, you deserve to be kicked out of the game.

People know they shouldn’t do it and so they deserve to get caught, but it shouldn’t have had to reach the stage where they are sprung by anti-racing groups. We have authority bodies for a reason, isn’t it time they started taking control of the sport they are supposed to manage? And shouldn’t they have been doing it without the pressure from the RSPCA and animal rights groups?

No matter what your view is on live baiting, I think we can all agree it would have been far better for the investigations to be handled ‘in-house’ by our authorities rather than having their hands forced and the industry’s image severely tarnished by groups whose main objective is to end greyhound racing.

Additionally, in a somewhat confusing turn of events, some tracks in New South Wales have also suspended finish-on trials. So now the perfectly humane and legal way to encourage dogs to chase has been taken away from trainers. Talk about mixed messages.

I love this industry and I want it to thrive, but it is naive to carry on thinking no one is doing the wrong thing. The authority bodies need to realise this and so do participants.

Although there may be tough times ahead, and it is certainly not something that I would ever like to see my cherished sport go through, perhaps this is the ammunition needed to incite the changes the industry so clearly needs to move forward to a bigger and brighter future.

Topics

Regulators GRNSW | GRV
Welfare Animal Welfare
General RSPCA

Past Discussion

  1. Kerrie , I reckon everyone has something to add to the debate , but I reckon you might be best suited to silence. Its best to keep quiet and have others THINK you are an imbecile , rather than open your mouth and remove all doubt.

  2. I was gobsmacked Dean. These people deserve life bans , 5 years gaol (its the max) and their properties seized under the proceeds of crime legislation. Serial killers have more compassion than these bastards.

  3. I was gobsmacked Dean. These people deserve life bans , 5 years gaol (its the max) and their properties seized under the proceeds of crime legislation. Serial killers have more compassion than these bastards.

  4. Great comeback Kerrie , next week we will work on counting to 5 and by next year you will be in Pre School with that sort of improvement. Fair dinkum if you moved overseas the average IQ in Australia would rise by at least 5.

  5. Great comeback Kerrie , next week we will work on counting to 5 and by next year you will be in Pre School with that sort of improvement. Fair dinkum if you moved overseas the average IQ in Australia would rise by at least 5.

  6. I will admit I have not made it through the entire Four Corners report.  I have to take breaks because it is so horrifying.  Truthful, factual and a frightening display of the “we love our dogs” mantra of the industry.

    Yes.  I am opposed to racing and always have been.  This?  Just went below the bottom of depravity.  oh my God.

  7. I will admit I have not made it through the entire Four Corners report.  I have to take breaks because it is so horrifying.  Truthful, factual and a frightening display of the “we love our dogs” mantra of the industry.

    Yes.  I am opposed to racing and always have been.  This?  Just went below the bottom of depravity.  oh my God. 

  8. This horrific practice will sadly taint all greyhound trainers in the eyes of the public. It will be a major setback for those trying to re-home ex racers. I hope that those involved are given a punishment so harsh that it leaves no doubt that the greyhound industry will not tolerate this horrific practice.
    For the bigger picture: We should all be concerned that the sadistic people who clearly derived pleasure from the suffering of those creatures, are walking among us. It’s not a huge leap to torturing and killing humans.

  9. This horrific practice will sadly taint all greyhound trainers in the eyes of the public. It will be a major setback for those trying to re-home ex racers. I hope that those involved are given a punishment so harsh that it leaves no doubt that the greyhound industry will not tolerate this horrific practice.

    For the bigger picture: We should all be concerned that the sadistic people who clearly derived pleasure from the suffering of those creatures, are walking among us. It’s not a huge leap to torturing and killing humans.

  10. BY NATURE, greyhounds are predators. BULLSHIT !
    BY NATURE, greyhounds don’t exist, greyhounds are man made from selective breeding. Greyhounds, like all domestic dogs do not exist in nature, they are not natural in the wild. Little man made gambling machines

  11. BY NATURE, greyhounds are predators. BULLSHIT !BY NATURE, greyhounds don’t exist, greyhounds are man made from selective breeding. Greyhounds, like all domestic dogs do not exist in nature, they are not natural in the wild. Little man made gambling machines

  16. After hearing trainers say in interviews that they don’t do it and that it’s archaic and then see them on video paying for it and doing it then how can we, and you, believe anyone? I hope you are right Sarge but I couldn’t trust anyone at face value on this.

  17. After hearing trainers say in interviews that they don’t do it and that it’s archaic and then see them on video paying for it and doing it then how can we, and you, believe anyone? I hope you are right Sarge but I couldn’t trust anyone at face value on this.

  22. Given the profile of those involved, including people involved in the supposed oversight and regulation this so-called sport, I find it laughable that you are claiming ignorance on this practice. How stupid do you think the Australian public is?

  23. Given the profile of those involved, including people involved in the supposed oversight and regulation this so-called sport, I find it laughable that you are claiming ignorance on this practice. How stupid do you think the Australian public is?

  38. Every sport has its scumbags …mandatory repayment the earnings and life ban/jail time is the only option, I love the dogs fact is it can be done without all the bullshit people are still feeding peds to horses as well.
    Scum needs to be cleaned top to bottom. Im sure there are dedicated clean trainers In the sport and they are the ones who should be at the top. Don’t paint everyone with the same brush and talk like you know everything because of a current affair program we all know they go for headlines and this sure was a massive one.

  39. Every sport has its scumbags …mandatory repayment the earnings and life ban/jail time is the only option, I love the dogs fact is it can be done without all the bullshit people are still feeding peds to horses as well.Scum needs to be cleaned top to bottom. Im sure there are dedicated clean trainers In the sport and they are the ones who should be at the top. Don’t paint everyone with the same brush and talk like you know everything because of a current affair program we all know they go for headlines and this sure was a massive one.

  40. Oh, Jewie….what’s the difference between using a worm to using animals such as possums, rabbits and piglets? Is this a serious question?

  41. Oh, Jewie….what’s the difference between using a worm to using animals such as possums, rabbits and piglets? Is this a serious question?

  42. By selective breeding? They were in the bible….only breed to be mentioned actually
    But I get what you’re saying, they are truly amazing pets who just prefer to take over your lounge and not rip a piglet in half
    Money talks

  43. By selective breeding? They were in the bible….only breed to be mentioned actuallyBut I get what you’re saying, they are truly amazing pets who just prefer to take over your lounge and not rip a piglet in half Money talks

  44. Mind you, I personally wouldn’t use live bait for anything – recreational or otherwise. However surely you understand the difference. You are just winding me up with your previous comment? I assumed you were just an obnoxious pot-stirrer trying to rile up those who were against live baiting practices and consequently greyhound racing because you don’t participate in illegal and unethical acts against animals. I didn’t think you would actually condone live baiting or seriously justify it….

  45. Mind you, I personally wouldn’t use live bait for anything – recreational or otherwise. However surely you understand the difference. You are just winding me up with your previous comment? I assumed you were just an obnoxious pot-stirrer trying to rile up those who were against live baiting practices and consequently greyhound racing because you don’t participate in illegal and unethical acts against animals. I didn’t think you would actually condone live baiting or seriously justify it….

  48. Here’s an idea. Every trainers race track should have camera’s installed and should be recording 24/7 with the public been able to view at anytime….. That might stop some of you cruel corrupt pricks… and sack the lot of your regulation officers….. obviously they were sitting on there fat arses getting paid to do sweet FA. Like I said why didn’t they set up some camera’s and take action???

  49. Here’s an idea. Every trainers race track should have camera’s installed and should be recording 24/7 with the public been able to view at anytime….. That might stop some of you cruel corrupt pricks… and sack the lot of your regulation officers….. obviously they were sitting on there fat arses getting paid to do sweet FA. Like I said why didn’t they set up some camera’s and take action???

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