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.
Children watch?
I saw ONE child
One too many I admit
Katherine how could you say you love the industry?! Greyhound racing is purely and simply = WRONG!!! I work with greyhounds and I see the abuse YOUR BELOVED industry bestows on them.
I am convinced more than ever that people like you and others in your trade are a disgrace to the planet and to mankind!
entrepreneurs will always find a way when society wants excitement & gambling.
I confess I don t have all t he answers gang. But if we allow the POV of Greyhounds , all , being blooded the impacts will be wider than wed like. Thats all.
send your money to a po box to get a good box full of cheats
For real as that horror show was tonight mate. I race but will not breed now. My first racer is a great , ahem , bitch. But just the thought of one of her pups being blooded sickens me. just hope the joy that these pups have brought my children doesnt evaporate due to the actions of a few. It doesnt matter if they are high profile or not IMHO.
That story is the TRUE representation of what it really IS…….
I bet all the comments that are coming from the ladies wear makeup that have been tested on animals
mark i dont wear make up i am all natural
Please dont try to justify it Justin This Dinosaur needs to be exposed NOW so the industry can take a look in the mirror. Fix the issues and move forward
Mark, you are a twat. What a ridiculous comment. Sounds to me that you may even support this despicable practice. Al Barnes there appears to be more ‘haters” than supporters of this cruel truth.
I’m vegetarian myself however I don’t think the livestock used in the meat industry are tied to sticks and mauled to death for the sake of entertainment. So…..what’s your point?
The trainers shown (and all those who weren’t caught red handed) to be participating in live baiting sicken me. Greedy, immoral pieces of shit. You should all be subjected to the same treatment you gave those defenseless animals. I spit on the greyhound racing industry.
Also, just a tip! if you’re going to try and defend greyhound racing you might have wanted to draw a distinction between your practices and the practices of those that use live baiting. That is to say that there IS a distinction to be made.
Greyhounds are fantastic animals and the majority of Hobby trainers who have race dogs will agree that the dog always comes first and the care and attention put into their animals is second to none. We have still managed to win the odd race without resorting to this barbaric act of cruelty. Unfortunately where there is huge money on offer there will always be corruption at any level and some of the professional trainers who have large kennels will consistently find new ways to win races at any costs. GRV has no choice but to Life ban not just the… Read more »
Do Gooders? No, caring for other living things in this world is just common decency. Laughing while tying them down as bait is psychotic. You belong in the latter.
Rupert you are a cock. While you’re at it… GFY U0001f603
Justin, do you use live baiting methods? Not sure why you’re getting all riled up… Don’t you want a cleaner industry?
How DARE YOU, how DARE you even try to refute what has been exposed. Sickening abhorent cruelty from sick bastards and for money and God know what sort of perverted gratification. Shut down your evil greedy industry.
Lol, Mark… are you trying to justify live baiting with the example of animal testing? Well aren’t you just a bag of silly! You don’t think they are as bad as each other and that people would be be in an uproar about both
As I said to a previous commenter, you might want to try and justify greyhound racing by making a distinction between your practices and those that use live baiting methods – assuming you can make a distinction….
How do you sleep at night??? Let’s tie YOU up and have a pack of dogs chase you around in circles. Rot in hell you vile people.
Well my dog was starved beaten and left for dead!
Now I turn on TV and live baiting is added to your disgusting sport….. Animal cruelty and people make money from it
I watched the show tonight. I could not believe the corruption going on. Greyhounds I love , honest trainers where are they? Y live animals? Greyhounds need training come up with regulatory training and use something different. A new committee is what is needed in each state. Poor greyhounds trained by selfish idiots
Ugh was aware of this brutality as a young child….sick that nothing has changed
Greyhounds are beautiful animals. I think everyone here understands that it’s some of the people in the industry who are barbaric. Do you know if GRV bans for life on all of those that are seen to be using live baiting methods? I tried to get a response from greyhound racing New South Wales and they didn’t answer. They’re information page says ‘extensive ban’ which means absolutely nothing.
you are very wrong mark and regardless of who comments, it is disgusting!!
Hi Jewie and co. do you live bait? You seem like you’d be the type to get off on that sort of thing :)
Oh, by the way Jewie!! It’s ‘as well’ not ‘aswell’.
I hope this expose spells the death of this abhorrent industry. This is an industry for thugs, liars and law breakers. It is clear that the people who manage this industry and participate in it cannot be trusted to obey the law, respect and care for animals and generally just do the right thing. I hope none of you ever makes another dollar at the expense of tortured and abused animals.I will never put a dollar of my money into this industry and I will discourage everyone else I know to avoid this vile business. Shame on you all. I… Read more »
Dream on Al Barnes, the scum involved in live baiting must face maximum prison sentences and a life time ban from racing. Good luck on their ability to ‘forget’ this consequence. I just wish the maximum prison sentence was life for each and every animal they have harmed. This industry disgusts me and all those who watch and bet on this sport need to take a long hard look at their taste in ‘entertainment’.
You are a moron Justin.
Wrong Mark. You are a twat.
Thanks
I hear twats are useful
Think it may take a few days Kellie for all the dust to settle but I really hope these people are made an example of. From all reports I’ve heard 10 year suspension is on the cards plus whatever criminal charges applicable from RSPCA. GRV will most likely announce this over the coming days. Just hope this is looked at more seriously now and not just swept under the table
I think one thing we can all agree on is live baiting is sick, and I think who ever is found guilty of it should be banned for life from the industry jailed for 10 years+ and have assets taken from them but some of the comments on here are also sick and offensive to the people in the industry who have done the right thing and there are a lot of people who still think everyone does the wrong thing which is not true there are trainers who care about there greyhounds and would never lay a hand on them nor engage… Read more »
Tonight’s story of cruelty was just the tip of the iceberg in this industry. Hope the next one is exposes the widespread killing of tens of thousands of puppies and young dogs who don’t make the grade and the older dogs who are discarded without a second thought when they don’t earn their owners money. Anyone involved in this industry has the nation’s contempt and nowhere to hide.
Disgusting filthy scum. The screams of the animals, and the cackling sniggering vermin who inflicted it, are Australia’s shame. How dare you do this to our proud nation! How dare you drag us to the level of the gutter, for the world to scorn.
It’s illegal to use live bait in the USA and anyone caught doing it looses their greyhounds and are banned from racing.
Four Corners certainly portrayed it as a cruel sport , it was there for everyone to see. Killing defenceless piglets, opossums and rabbits.
Shore do live bait , best to get your dog a kill before they go an race , keeps them on edge , thanks for the English lesson to kellie
Any relation to Greg Kellie?
I see the greys that survive the industry and get the chance to be a family pet. They come terrified, broken (my girl has several breaks in her tail), starving, and exhausted. These are the ones who can be rehabilitated. This is a vile industry.
If thats what happens then great.. if it shuts it down then indont see any good happeneing here
Wow thats all
Greyhound racing might be thinking twice about their facebook posts from now on
How many did you need Peter? One caught no camera – what is interesting about human behaviour is that it demonstrates norms. 17 mean and a child all standing around live baiting – and no one else knew? The damage is done. The truth is out and it’s not going away until people are charged, found guilty and jailed. Then nothing ever to come out of the industries mouth – ever again will be trusted. The sooner greyhound people who don’t cheat, who dno’t brutalise small animals capable of the same fear and suffering as any dog start being universal… Read more »
Actually Michael not only does the government not make money from greyracing – they subsidise it with our tax dollars.
actually quite the opposite Justin – the do gooders have been lobbied, acting, calling royal commissions, all over the television and finally forced investigations into the industry that smashed it wide open and ruined it’s reputation and possibility of self regulation – forever.
So now we know where they have been – where have all the “supposed” ethical, real non live baiting trainers been – under a rock?