NSW Greyhound trainer loses dogs due to bushfires
A GREYHOUND trainer in the central west of NSW has lost his entire property in a savage bushfire which ravaged a large area east of Dunedoo over the weekend.
Warren Jarvis, from Turill, just under 90km from Dunedoo, fled his property on Sunday when it was engulfed by flames.
“I've been watching the smoke since yesterday, before it came up around the hill,” he said.
“I was up around the back paddock to see how close it was and I took off because I could see some flames.
“I came straight onto the main road here and saw all the flames just come over the hill and go mad.
“My house and all my property is totally gone. Thirty-three greyhounds, other cats, all my chooks, probably my sheep and cattle.”
Jarvis trained 24 winners throughout 2016, with most of the success throughout his training career being at Bathurst, Dubbo, Mudgee, Lithgow and The Gardens.
Some of his greyhounds had proven more than handy, including Yap Trap and Country Dancer which had won 10 and 13 races respectively.
It is believed a number of properties have been destroyed by the blaze east of Dunedoo towards Black Stump Way, Leadville and Coolah.
The fire was moving quickly on Sunday afternoon, reaching speeds of up to 12km/hour.
“The information we have is that a number of homes have been impacted by fire in that area,” Rural Fire Service deputy commissioner Rob Rogers told the ABC.
“We have to get in there and have a look at that later on.”
By Sunday night, the fire had grown so large that it was creating its own weather system, with residents northwest of Black Stump Way and Leadville urged to leave towards Dunedoo or Mendooran if they had a clear route.
Meanwhile, residents of Uarbry, Turill and Cassilis were told to seek shelter, with the Royal Fire Service declaring it too late to leave.
The immediate threat to property from bushfires was downgraded on Monday morning as a result of cooler and calmer conditions over Sunday night, however the RFS are still warning people the danger is far from over.
A resident of Uarbry, east of Dunedoo, told the ABC that the small country town had been all but wiped out in the bush fire, which the RFS have called the Sir Ivan Fire, that had burned more than 41,000 hectares by Monday morning.
The Sir Ivan Fire was one of more than 100 being battled by firefighters across NSW on Sunday. The fire had been downgraded to Watch and Act level, one level below emergency, just before 6am on Monday.
However, an RFS spokesperson said residents still needed to monitor the conditions, with the fire remaining un-contained.
“The fire is currently burning to the east of Dunedoo moving in a northerly direction towards Black Stump Way, Leadville and Coolah.
“Although conditions are easing, people in the area should remain vigilant and prepared to implement their bushfire survival plan.
“People in the areas of Leadville, Turill, Cassilis and Coolah should remain vigilant and prepared to implement their bush fire survival plan.
“Follow the directions of firefighters in the area. Telecommunications may be disrupted in the area due to power outages.”
Australian Racing Greyhound has reached out to the family of Mr. Jarvis for further information on his condition and will bring you news as soon as possible.
Hi Katherine, other news orgs are reporting 3 greyhounds lost, was it in fact 33?
PaulHell yes 33
his daughter has set up a go fund me page for him
PaulHell http://www.9news.com.au/national/2017/02/13/07/45/farmer-loses-all-as-fires-ravage-nsw-central-west/?ocid=9newssfb the headlines say 3 but listen to the man himself…33
Kat I hope you don’t mind me adding the link to the “go fund me page” If anyone feels they would like to help
Sue Mawby PaulHell He doesn’t say “thirty” very clearly unfortunately, so I think that’s why all other new media have reported it as only three.
“yes, I left my animals to burn to death…in reality I should be charged with gross negligence and animal cruelty…”. Not a real quote from this disgraceful man.
Animallover737 they do not deserve any funding.. they should have taken better care with the animals they tell us they”love so much”.. how poor dogs..
Karenconnell Animallover737 I just cannot process leaving animals to that fate, with that much notice to make at least some difference…that’s what happens when animals are seen as no more than 2108221082. Breathtaking…
WHY so they can get more to leave
Would you leave children there why the hell would you leave Animals there can’t believe you people leaving them to die in like that OMG disgraceful
Only three Oh well does that mean only three lives lost. can’t believe this, three or thirty three is still unnecessary lives lost
Why do you troll molls read greyhound sites is it because you are so ugly no one wants anything to do you with you, great news last week vegans will die much younger than normal people, brain dead Wankers.
Ratbag how could you move 33 dogs at one time with a fire approaching.
Todman So this is a greyhound racing trainer/owner without the means to move a SINGLE dog?! And I quote said person from the article…”I’ve been watching the smoke since yesterday, before it came up around the hill,”. The region had AMPLE time to evacuate but he apparently left, without taking so much as SINGLE animal with him, knowing they’d be burned alive. Most people with empathy for their animals would have done SOMETHING, unlike this person, who utterly epitomises what right-thinking people know the greyhound industry to be full of: cruel, uncaring…your term ‘ratbag’ fits beautifully here.
CarolDeGeir You have obviously not faced a bushfire coming at you. So easy to tell others what they should or should not have done. There have been hundreds of animals die in the fire. It is simply not possible to move hundreds of cows, sheep and horses during these situations. Many people got their pets ( two or three dogs out) but to ‘save” 200 head of cattle is almost impossible. People who had to leave their animals behind are devastated and then we have armchair critics such as you condemning them. This man stayed as long as possible to… Read more »
CarolDeGeir So pious perhaps you could go and volunteer as a fire fighter so you can understand the heat and panic that engulf people in this situation. I have seen grown men crying over their cattle which they could not save. This man misjudged the speed of the fire and he like many others have lost everything and we have the holier than thou set using the opportunity to condemn some one in the greyhound industry. Why don’t you do something useful like volunteer to feed the fire fighters rather than condemn people who have had to make difficult decisions… Read more »
Animallover737 Karenconnell Perhaps if you go and stand in front of a raging bushfire in front of your house you might understand the panic that engulfs people during this situation. We have people risking their lives to save PEOPLE – how these men can possibly work as they do in these conditions to try to save others is beyond me- true heroes and then we have the opportunists who “love animals” making comments about a dog trainer- simply using a situation where people have lost everything to promote their holier than thou attitudes. Perhaps next time there is a bushfire you… Read more »
Deborah555 CarolDeGeir So where was his bushfire plan for the dogs? Presumably he takes a number of them at a time to race meetings so would have transport on hand? Doesn’t sound like he had any great attempts to save them.
Sue Mawby Quick to set up a page to seek donations – pity he wasn’t as quick off the mark to save his dogs.
forthegreys Deborah555 CarolDeGeir Not many dog trailers have 33 berths. I doubt anyone has ever taken 33 dogs to the track at one time. Once again I doubt you have ever faced a bushfire (it is a terrifying experience and the number one priority is people )- very easy to have a plan but a raging wall of fire tends to diminish sensible and reasoned behaviour. I find it sad that when so many people have been devastated we have the armchair critics attacking a greyhound trainer. Just an opportunity to make mileage out of other people’s misery.
CarolDeGeir Everyone got their kids out safely for some “strange” reason people made sure the kids were safe before the animals and most people do not have 200 head of children and or even 33.
Deborah555 You bet I’ll criticise! I have, in fact, been in a bushfire scenario with horses and dogs, and ALWAYS had an evacuation plan…even if that just meant cutting fences to allow livestock a better chance of using their instincts to escape! But no, he stayed much longer than logic would have dictated, doing nothing to plan to evacuate his animals, then RAN at the last minute. Did he actually save ANY animals?! How many dogs and other animals were in cages, or otherwise confined, running in circles and screaming in pain while they burned to death? Personally, I’d be evacuating as soon… Read more »
Deborah555 forthegreys CarolDeGeir Evacuation plans exist for a reason, and when someone has so many animals in their care, whose very survival depends on him, it’s incumbent upon that person to take responsibility for those lives. From the tone of your comments, it seems animals would be way down the list of things you would save in a bushfire, but we’re not all like you.
Deborah555 Animallover737 Karenconnell Your assumption that I’m not experienced in bushfire situations, and that I actually don’t “volunteer my services” during natural disasters is stunning and incorrect. But it seems you are the only person to have any idea about the devastation of fires! And you’re suggesting that others are pontificating?! To pontificate is something quite different to criticising someone for a shocking lack of common sense and empathy Deborah. And yes, at least some of us do love animals, someone has to…
Deborah555 CarolDeGeir …then they should be responsible only for THEIR lives, not scores more that they are incapable of protecting…
Animallover737 Deborah555 You may have a plan but you obviously have not put it into action which is an entirely different thing. It is very easy to be logical and rational and plan but faced with a raging fire is a different matter. Thousands of native animals and stock were lost and the response from you is to condemn the one and only greyhound trainer involved. Have you been on any other websites and criticised people who have lost cattle ? I bet you have not. Just using a tragedy to condemn a group of certain people that you do not… Read more »
Animallover737 Deborah555 Karenconnell Sorry but your comments so far do not suggest much hands on experience with fire fighting. Might be good at writing up contingency plans but don’t seem to have much knowledge about human behaviour in emergency situations.
forthegreys Sue Mawby No one is asking you to donate forthegreys what other people do with their money is really not your business.
Animallover737 Deborah555 CarolDeGeir So anyone who has lost all their cattle would receive the same condemnation would they? or it is just one greyhound trainer who has brought out your concern for animals.
Animallover737 Deborah555 forthegreys CarolDeGeir I am pretty sure that is a member of the emergency services went back to save an animal and left a child behind the majority of people would not think that was a good call.
Deborah555 forthegreys Sue Mawby That is true, however but the mistreatment of animals is everyone’s business. Or are you suggesting that people turn a blind eye to mistreatment and neglect? Oh that’s right, you are an apologist for the racing industry so of course you are.
Animallover737 Deborah555
Animallover, just have a look at today’s newschannels. Cattle farmer claiming that he had to go round shooting all his burnt cattle. It wasn’t just the dogs, it was all types of animals, even the ones you and your dogs eat.
I’m sorry for all those who lost properties and animals and hope those fighting the bushfires stay safe.
It appears that RSPCA NSW and GRNSW had a joint bushfire evacuation plan in place to help evacuate and provide shelter for greyhounds for those owners who needed it. I just wonder why this man didn’t take the opportunity to evacuate his greyhounds givien that the bushfire was anticipated.
Deborah555 Animallover737 CarolDeGeir I know there’s a lot of farmers who really do love their animals and lose them in devastating circumstances; these poor souls are not where my anger is directed. You’re missing the point entirely if you can’t see why this man has engendered more empathy for his animals than himself…
BJoe Animallover737 Deborah555 This article was written about a specific individual whose actions seem alarmingly bereft of logic, given the time and warning he had to prepare. The man in question had numerous animals in his care, all of whom seem to have fallen victim to his inability to prepare and act when others most certainly would have. As I’ve mentioned previously, many farmers do their best to save their animals but are unable to do so. These are not the souls at whom my, and others’ anger, is directed in this case…Small animals locked in cages are not the same as… Read more »
Deborah555 Animallover737 The fact that this man was involved with greyhound racing is beside the point; he had sentient beings in his care that, through his negligence, had NO hope of surviving…
I’d love to see these ‘wankers’, and by that I mean bluelass, CarolDeGeir & forthegreys, who are trying to make mileage out of some poor bugger’s misery, stand up at a pub or club at places like Cassilis & Dunedoo and tell those within earshot what they have said on this website. I doubt if they will as they’d be strung up if they did. As for ‘bluelass’ being selective when it comes to RSPCA & GRNSW having an evacuation plan for greyhounds, let me say that there there are evacuation plans for all community members, inclusive of animals. A… Read more »
Animallover737 Deborah555 Karenconnell Unless you have been through the horror of a bushfire thats destroyed your home and your Animals most of you are just talking through your arses Its the most horrific thing i’ve ever experience in my 60 years of life on this earth and i can’t believe a lot of you are so judge mental of this mans action. here is only one word to describe some of comments, “PATHETIC “
BobWhitelaw Animallover737 Deborah555 Karenconnell I’m sorry you’ve had to endure the horrors of a bushfire Bob; why then, are you not utterly incensed at the way this man mis-managed the time and resources available to him, which resulted in the somewhat preventable loss of a lot of his animals?
Animallover737 BobWhitelaw Deborah555 Karenconnell I not going to be drawn into your argument what should have been ? but i will say this , we are all Animals Lovers other wise we would’t have them.
Animallover737 Deborah555 CarolDeGeir Ive fought a fire in 44 degree heat with winds too strong to throw water into it . We laid a water brake in some canola stubble along a sheep track & back burned & turned the fire front to a wide gravel road that had bush that had been prescribed burned a few months before .The long ryegrass along the fence flared flames 30m long hosing the prickly bush & white gums , nothing burnt , i thought every thing burnt at 44 degrees . I was standing in front of my 10 000 sheep , dogs… Read more »
GlennNix Animallover737 Deborah555 CarolDeGeir Spot on Glenn,
bluelass How would GRNSW EVACUATION PLAN which was on there site to take Greyhounds to Gosford, Maitland and the Gardens please explain How this was going to help those out west where Fires were?
So sad \U0001f62dI didn’t realize it was 33 dogs \U0001f436
Not good to hear.
Just terrible i thought last nights new said three dogs but shocking whether 3 or 33 plus everything else its a cruel world sometimes
I spoke to Warren today and 6 out of 33 of his greyhounds survived, as well as some cows. He’s absolutely devastated but at least there’s a couple that have survived.
If you talking to him again can you pass on a hug from me cheers
He hasn’t got a phone at the moment but if I do I’ll let him know :)
Oh wow……this is awful. :(