Bundaberg incident dumb and embarrassing, but that’s all so far

THE actions at Bundaberg are obviously stupid, ill-considered, ill-planned and contrary to the laws of greyhound racing. But, so far, there is no evidence of cruelty. Nor are there any indications the police will lay cruelty charges. That may change but until it does no crime exists and everyone is innocent.

The publicity has done no good, of course, but the event has not been helped by emotive reactions from a Police Minister still wearing L Plates. Her use of terms like “mass murder” and “animal cruelty” are improper and unhelpful. Indeed, were any cases to come before the court, they might be considered contempt. Anyway, her populist plea “to catch these people and have the justice system deal with them” is irrelevant unless and until (a) a crime is uncovered, which seems unlikely, and (b) the accused are shown to be responsible, with horse and greyhound trainer Narelle Mulcahy and her 71-year-old partner the only known links at this stage.

Those doubts are underscored by the discovery of .22 cartridges near the bodies. It would be very difficult to prove that a bullet through the head constitutes cruelty. Were that the sole evidence, hundreds of Queensland sheep farmers would also need to come before the judge.

We should also note that the and local councils “murder” thousands of dogs and other animals every year for a variety of reasons, many of which involve previous abuse and neglect from owners.

Both the RSPCA and a Friends of the Hound spokesman have commented on the incident but neither has used the word “cruelty”.

If you want to know what cruelty is, check this report last month in the Newcastle Herald:

“Only one puppy out of seven survived a brutal attack in bushland near Kurri Kurri. The Bull Arab-cross puppies were allegedly dragged out of a Holden Commodore, swung around in the air and possibly bashed into the ground before being thrown into the scrub.”

That is cruelty and the offender was duly penalised. So he should be.

Meantime, let's wait for more facts at Bundaberg.

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Jayne
Jayne
8 years ago

Interesting that you describe the deaths of 55 beautiful greyhounds as “dumb and embarrassing” “Stupid, ill considered and ill planned” I think perhaps words such as abhorrent, barbaric, inhumane and depraved may have been a more appropriate. My understanding is that the investigation is on-going so the police and RSPCA could lay charges once all the evidence is collected. It is too early in the investigation to say that “it seems unlikely a crime will be uncovered”. Only this morning there are reports that some of the greyhound skulls have been smashed and the police have seized a baseball bat as… Read more »

greg
greg
8 years ago

JAYNE I agree the heading was tactless, but the content is as honourable as your own,in most areas. whilst not condoing what took place, it is a wait/see policy, and many have had a say, but we do need to wait for official reports and further actions. what did pee me off though, was the condition of the farm, and why was that ever passed by so called inspections? where were the stewards and welfare/integrity people when so called inspections were done(if) surely someone among them should have raised a question on its condition. and secondly, the goose ‘flipping the… Read more »

Scoops01
Scoops01
8 years ago

Well written, Jayne, hear, hear!!

NancyWeller
NancyWeller
8 years ago

@Jayne Well said, Jayne. 

EricJackson_USA
EricJackson_USA
8 years ago

@greg The condition of the farm is a great example of what’s wrong with having inspections done by the industry itself.  Greyhound welfare is a set of words that have little, if any, meaning in the industry.  

EricJackson_USA
EricJackson_USA
8 years ago

Pointing out cruelty by others does not diminish one’s own culpability in condoning cruelty by the greyhound industry.  Rather, your comments serve to remind us that such cruelty occurs in many settings, and the people that take part in the greyhound racing industry are part of a larger group that inflict pain and suffering upon animals. 

Craig MJ Andrews
Craig MJ Andrews
8 years ago

Disagree with you on this one Bruce.

Ben Weidenbach
Ben Weidenbach
8 years ago

Absolutely correct Bruce, have a look at the case last week against GRV. A gunshot is seen as a legal way to euthanise a animal, it’s the dumping bit that has blown this out of the water.

Jodie Manuel
Jodie Manuel
8 years ago

I’m sorry but I disagree who could look their dog in the eyes and shoot it not me obvs someone with no heart or soul

Loz Kearns
Loz Kearns
8 years ago

Greyhounds are considered “livestock” therefore it is ok to put a gun to their head as Companion Animal Act doesn’t stop this euthanasia! Any other canine breed and they would be slapped with cruelty charges!I’m disgusted(!!!) to say the least and these people should be hung.Get fucked giving these evil assholes any benefit of any doubt! Rot in hell

Tammy Stuhmcke
Tammy Stuhmcke
8 years ago

Disagree Bruce we are in 2015 . To shoot a dog & we are not talking 1 it’s 55 .. Need them out of our sport this is not acceptable at all .

Loz Kearns
Loz Kearns
8 years ago

I’m actually surprised you guys posted this! Every decent trainer has screamed bloody murder for how they’ve been treated after the live baiting scandal if they have been doing the right thing and now you want to publicise that they aren’t disgusting humans who did thisCome on

Loz Kearns
Loz Kearns
8 years ago

55 dogs are dead and you say lets not jump to conclusions!The conclusion is they had options to rid the dogs in a humane way like giving them to a rescue group. This was no goddamn accident

Robyn Mackellar
Robyn Mackellar
8 years ago

It’s a stupid out dated rule too Ben, that needs to be changed, it should be a vet ONLY so proper paperwork and tracking can be adhered to.

Anthony Webb
Anthony Webb
8 years ago

Not sure about dumb. It’s damn disgusting

Patrick Barrett
Patrick Barrett
8 years ago

Loz.. To emotional mate wishing to hang them makes you look as bad as they are regardless of what they did capital punishment is not the answer. I don’t agree with what they did but I understand the laws of Australia and we do not have capital punishment here therefore it should not be considered as an option.

Damien Mills
Damien Mills
8 years ago

I was amazed with the Grv findings and that a .22 by a licensed person is an acceptable form of euthanasia.. That rule will be changed immediately and agree the muppets on stage with a nation audience calling them oxygen thieves was wrong if it is legal in qld, as terrible as it is and we all would agree it’s not the way things are done in 2015 If No law was broken….. if illegal acts took place they could do with a .22…. well written article unpopular but spot on

Loz Kearns
Loz Kearns
8 years ago

It’s a figure of speech. Back it up Patrick!Let’s take the bible approach of an eye for an eye then.

Loz Kearns
Loz Kearns
8 years ago

And don’t ever jump on MY post and tell me I’m too emotional.

Kyleigh Fahey
Kyleigh Fahey
8 years ago

wrote this article too early, I am absolutely disgusted that this article would even be written, there is no defense for these people what’s so ever, there will be 8 races in bundaburg today that’s 64 dogs going around that’s 9 more than what was dumpedNo roslyn that’s not the only difference they are humanly euthanised not shot not bashed and have their skulls caved in, if you are defending the actions of these people, hand your license in, we don’t want you!!

Loz Kearns
Loz Kearns
8 years ago

Why is this argument based on HOW we euthanise Greyhounds? Vet, bullet, left for dead at the back of a racetrack.Why is it ok to kill them? So before everyone says its the lesser of two evils, these dogs deserved a chance at finding homes.Death should never be the first option regardless of how many lengths they get beat by even if they make the track!Don’t dare say “wastage” because that’s the term that had all the trainers up in arms a few months ago.

Inez Hamilton
Inez Hamilton
8 years ago

“Police say some of the 55 carcasses found at a rural Coonarr property, located 30 minutes from the woman’s home, appeared to have been shot, while others had caved-in heads, consistent with being hit.”

Aaron Cross
Aaron Cross
8 years ago

What do people think happens to racing industry “wastage”?

Graeme Ferns
Graeme Ferns
8 years ago

Wonder if the do gooders will want to ban Rugby league for the way a few idiots acted last night, oh and ban afl as the first game saw a report in the first minute of the game and a player badly dislocated a shoulder.

Kyleigh Fahey
Kyleigh Fahey
8 years ago

They have a choice Graeme and no one shoots them for missing a goal

Sonia Kempshall
Sonia Kempshall
8 years ago

Lets put things in to prospective ,innocent to proven guilty,people talk of wastage ,they are animals not wastage ,,maybe we need to ban all animals as there is so called wastage in all animals ,,,far more than in greyhounds ,,due to strict breeding and fees incured by Greyhound racing ,,people really need to get there heads out of sand

Harris Van Houten
Harris Van Houten
8 years ago

You’re too emotional.And wanting to follow anything from the bible makes you look incredibly stupid as well as emotional.

Loz Kearns
Loz Kearns
8 years ago

Fuck off Harris. Get a life & something better to do than judge me.

SkyeBlue1
SkyeBlue1
8 years ago

The one thing that has struck me most in recent months is the widespread deflection tactics and absolute refusal to acknowledge the elephant in the room, the routine and callous culling of surplus dogs endemic in the Industry. Even when faced with clear evidence, you pass it off….because it is normal to you. Acceptable. Disgusting.

MarionPurnell
MarionPurnell
8 years ago

It’s not how they were killed or whether that method of killing is legal or not  that’s the problem Mr Teague.  The problem is that elements in your industry always have and always will treat greyhounds as trash to throw on a garbage heap when they’re not bringing in the dollars.

NickyR
NickyR
8 years ago

The average Australian finds it abhorrent. The industry finds it dumb and embarrassing. The wider this gap gets the more the industry loses social licence to continue.

Inez Hamilton
Inez Hamilton
8 years ago

It doesn’t result in innocent animals suffering and being killed you twat

DaveSampson
DaveSampson
8 years ago

The greyhound racing industry is still completely out of step with the public. They don’t truly appreciate how abhorrent they find live baiting to be. And evidenced by Bruce Teagues story, the industry is still completely oblvious to the issue of overbreeding. Bruce, let me spell it out for you. Its not about whether they were killed by a bullet (evidence is now emerging that several may have had their skulls caved in). The overall issue is why are 55 greyhounds disposed of like they were garbage? It is simply unacceptable to the general public to have between 18 to… Read more »

Fawn Dell Maibalz
Fawn Dell Maibalz
8 years ago

Rugby players have a voice and can choose to play ?not just do gooders but passionate about the safety and well being of the dogs ❤️

DaveSampson
DaveSampson
8 years ago

Of course there is no good bringing up the issue of overbreeding with GRNSW. Any post on their Facebook page that is slightly critical of the industry is deleted and the poster banned immediately. Recently they did a post on Zipping Willow and what a great dog he was. Only problem is they actively tried to ban this dog for the live baiting issue. Yet when they lost the case,suddenly they are all like ‘ok, now we love the dog, lets all celebrate him.’ ….. the GRNSW are complete hypocrites. Claiming to clean up the industry yet allowing 9 banned… Read more »

DaveSampson
DaveSampson
8 years ago

You tell em Loz!

Scoops01
Scoops01
8 years ago

Mr Teague, you are out of step with the rest of Australians beliefs about what is considered humane & what is not. Shooting an animal that is alive & well humanely takes great skill and frequently is not instantly fatal, hence the smashed skulls. The humane shooting of an injured or diseased animal by a farmer is a far different scenario. Australians would expect all animals killed be it a dog, cat or cow is performed with least distress to the animal, we are after all a civilized country. Furthermore, the big issue here is not the way these dogs… Read more »

LukeThomas1
LukeThomas1
8 years ago

“No crime exists and everyone is innocent” except for the 50 or so dead dogs left ti rot in a field…. were they guilty????

Jenni Viles
Jenni Viles
8 years ago

Sorry shooting dogs has no place in society ..the lazy tight arse scum COULD have paid for a vet this is something that must be rectified within the industry …give them life …

Treehugger
Treehugger
8 years ago

Bruce Teague, really??? You are such a dinosaur.  You should have just stuck to the innocent until proven guilty line.  I totally agree, everyone is allowed their day in court as are this pair. As we all know, it is not illegal to shoot your greyhound (or any other breed for that matter) in the head, as long as it is done humanely and your gun is licensed,  However it is illegal to dump them on public land, and to have an unlicensed gun.  All that aside., Bruce, you are so out of step with how disgusted the public is… Read more »

AaronC
AaronC
8 years ago

Looks like someone hijacked Jenni’s account..

AaronC
AaronC
8 years ago

Retirement beckons Bruce. For you and everyone involved in this fake sport.

Ewan
Ewan
8 years ago

Very well said, Bruce. Anyone who disagrees with your common-sense appraisal has clearly lost touch with reality. Too bad it appears so many people have.

Ewan
Ewan
8 years ago

The other day I was at Safeway and saw dozens, maybe a hundred, of dead chickens. It looked like they had been roasted to death! How horrible! Clearly it was a case of mass-murder and undoubtedly there was cruelty involved – they were dead weren’t they? And the macabre thing about it was that they had all been decapitated and had their feet cut off. There must have been fowl play involved. These birds were clearly tortured to death!

Ewan
Ewan
8 years ago

The most appalling aspect to this story is how the leftmedia and many political leaders get so outraged over a few dead greyhounds and yet couldn’t care less about the abortion holocaust. Not only that, but said leftmedia and political leaders would come down like the proverbial ‘ton of bricks’ on anyone who dared suggest abortion to be murder, and yet they consider it acceptable to use the term “murder” to describe some dead dogs!

DaveSampson
DaveSampson
8 years ago

@Ewan Oh dear. Someone who doesnt understand the concept of animals as a food source in a regulated industry versus animals used purely as entertainment before being disposed of, many of whom are disposed in ways  that are not under any form of regulation. Never mind Ewan, on the plus side, I want you to keep talking as you pretty much represent the intelligence level of most people in the greyhound racing industry.

Dezzey
Dezzey
8 years ago

@Ewan  By left wing media you mean CNN, BBC, NYTIMES, News Limited (owned by Mr Right Wing himself Rupert Murdoch) ? They all reported it.  You can’t blame the lefty vegans anymore because Mr and Mrs Average Joe Public who didn’t have any reason to think about the industry until now, are the ones up in arms about “a few dead dogs”.  Check out what the “Right wing media” are saying  https://www.couriermail.com.au/remote/check_cookie.html?url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.couriermail.com.au%2fnews%2fqueensland%2fbundaberg%2fnews-story%2f4409b2511b4f9e12ee7a8981cb4a1e25#c1092585 This isn’t the livestock or poultry industry that provide food and economic stability to our economy. It’s a domestic dog chasing a stuffed toy around a track for entertainment. Anyone who thinks… Read more »

Mwk
Mwk
8 years ago

Hopefully this is all past now and by registering greyhound for the sake of following their life will help maybe subsidise the vet to euthanise greyhounds…absolutely no excuse then to do it any other way…how many of us haven’t sent the papers back after putting a dog down the new way of the paperwork signed by the vet and a 7 day clause to send the form to greyhound authority..just my thought.

Mwk
Mwk
8 years ago

Their are Cowboys in every sport and no doubt in greyhounds ..I bet their are many pets suffering out their from lack of vet help by owners…not just greyhounds .. Is their a big problem for all with vet charges? It’s just a thought so don’t attack. Also buying dog meat at the knackery I have quite often seen race horses coming in for process.