Owner fires back at MP for labelling her greyhound as dead

A TASMANIAN greyhound owner is still fuming after her retired greyhound was declared dead by a Greens MP trying to shut down the industry.

During the week Andrea Dawkins, the MP for the electorate of Bass, tabled a document in State Parliament listing 16 greyhounds alleged to have died on the track within the first six months of 2016.

One of the greyhounds named in the document was Wee Fire, who earned $34,650 on the racetrack and was reported by Dawkins to have died from unknown causes at less than four years of age.

Dawkins has since been forced to issue a public apology and retraction after Wee Fire's part-owner, Julie Bannon, came forward declaring the greyhound was alive and well.

“The information that one less dog has died at the hands of this industry is the great news for an advocate to receive,” Dawkins said in her statement.

“Our incorrect listing of Wee Fire as a deceased greyhound was unintended, and I will correct the Parliamentary record this evening. We apologise unreservedly to Wee Fire's owner and trainer for our mistake.

“Getting information about greyhounds who have died or are missing is challenging. It's unfortunate we are forced to rely on the information compiled by animal welfare activists.

“The greyhound racing industry is under a cloud because of its cruel nature and a lack of transparency.”

However, Bannon says the public statement was not good enough.

“I am angry and disappointed to think that somebody could do something and not have their information right,” Bannon told Australian Racing Greyhound.

“She put something up on the Greens site… but I thought a personal apology would have happened, not that we probably would have accepted it.

“She has no idea of the effect this has caused. It's not just me but a lot of people have been upset by it – there is another owner and the trainer as well.

“We have since received plenty of messages of support from people, but it shouldn't have happened in the first place.

“If they want to put this stuff out there they need to make sure all of their information is correct.

“They don't think; they just do what they want.”

Bannon is now urging Dawkins to experience the industry from a different perspective to see that the majority of greyhounds are loved and nurtured.

“She needs to go and spend the day with a trainer and see how we look after our dogs,” Bannon said.

“A lot of the time they are looked after better than ourselves – I haven't trained for a couple of seasons now – but when I was I made sure all the dogs and pups got fed before me – a lot of the time I wouldn't get to sit down for a meal until after 8'o clock at night.

“They all get looked after and have their warm beds and plenty of attention – these people need to take the time to recognise that.

“They need to do their homework a bit better.”

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No SAV
No SAV
7 years ago

“They need to do their homework a bit better.”

They certainly do but I’m afraid that stopped when they left school.

With the greyhound gravy train no need for accountability – throw as much mud as you like, some will stick and all is fair in love and war.

Typical green sloth.

JeffWhite4
JeffWhite4
7 years ago

The racing industry does its level best to keep the public in the dark about the true extent of greyhound injuries and deaths. Then they have the nerve to lecture people about doing their homework better after they manage to extract a small amount of information through painstaking research on race records and stewards’ reports, and it turns out to be inaccurate in the case of one out of 16 dogs! Cue the hypocritical outrage and phony hurt feelings! It’s all designed to distract the public from the horrific, but formerly secret, industry data obtained through Right to Information that… Read more »

Deborah555
Deborah555
7 years ago

JeffWhite4  Back again Jeff just like a herpes simplex virus. The public have not been kept in the dark about anything you and your kind have been claiming you have known about it for years. “for years we have known about this horrendous cruelty” is the cry. Then you claim “we have been kept in the dark”  make up your mind.  The racing boards have a legislated duty to keep the punters informed not the rabid fringe element whose love of animals is highly questionable. Ms Dawkins (Wee fired our mouth off too quick)  used animal activists figures when obviously she could… Read more »

BobWhitelaw
BobWhitelaw
7 years ago

Majority of people on this earth love and respect their animals, but i wonder with people like  MP Andrea Dawkins who jump at anything to get their HEAD on the front page. i ask you Andrea do you have the Information on these ANIMAL WELFARE ACTIVISTS who practice BESTIALITY or are you  just a Lap dog for their Agenda ? Many view  this act as a mental  problem with these Minority  Groups ! maybe Andrea you should look at the real issues that effects peoples lives in our world today ,like many in your electorate we find your thoughts repugnant… Read more »

No SAV
No SAV
7 years ago

JeffWhite4 33 greyhounds died in the Launceston area in a single day? Where can I clarify this information please?

DaveSampson75
DaveSampson75
7 years ago

Well Ms Bannon, I would be ensuring YOU had made sure you have all your ducks in a row as well. See there is a slight problem with Wee Fire. That problem being that OzChase a system used in multiple jurisdications seems to believe your greyhound hasnt retired at all. https://fasttrack.grv.org.au/Dog/Details/-726311 This information is supplied by OzChase, which I had confirmed by email from GRV. So which is it Ms Bannon, did you not correctly tell authorities that you have retired your greyhound, or is this yet another complete f.ck up by OzChase (who never list a dog as deceased… Read more »

Deborah555
Deborah555
7 years ago

BobWhitelaw  Yes Bob they are a funny lot these animal activists. I thought that with the odd exception (sociopaths)  most people cared about animals and children- I thought it was just part of the human condition but apparently these morally superior people seem to think they have a stronghold on the feeling. I think most of them just want to condemn other people and greens all over the country are getting onto the “dead dog bandwagon” in their defence they don’t seem to have any other policies and you are right this is the first time I have seen some… Read more »

Todman
Todman
7 years ago

Jeff White famous boxing name, maybe you too have had too many whacks to the head.

BobWhitelaw
BobWhitelaw
7 years ago

JeffWhite4 Just finished watching The Wild Life Man David Ireland where he’s explaining the DEVASTATION caused by wild pigs,goats bulls,dogs,rabbits ,foxes cats,camels all feral .He explained how these feral animals are destroying our native vegetarian and our native wild life through diseases to with which also can effect Humans in some cases this has happen. He then was  showing how they are Killing these feral animals and as David Ireland explained to viewers that these pest are out of control right across Australia and during  the course of the show” on comes the NSW GOVERNMENTS BAN THE GREYHOUNDS ADD  that’s… Read more »

dogem53
dogem53
7 years ago

http://www.australianracinggreyhound.com/australian-greyhound-racing/new-south-wales-greyhound-racing/greyhound-action-group-respond-to-parliamentary-inquiry/43033

is this history repeating itself?

I am a newbie,but discovered this by accident…..please explain?

seems todays situation has been raised before. what the hell is all this about?

this is dated 2013?

dogem53
dogem53
7 years ago

JeffWhite4 YAWN…………

JeffWhite4
JeffWhite4
7 years ago

No SAV  You might try asking TasRacing. But they generally refuse to give out any information about death and injury statistics. That sort of information has to be pried from their cold, dead hands through Right to Information law channels. Which is exactly what the Tas Greens had to do to get this 31-page document (the Launceston area deaths in question are listed right on page 1): https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3031647-Right-to-Information-on-Greyhound-Deaths.html

JeffWhite4
JeffWhite4
7 years ago

Todman Perhaps you’ve had too few.

dogem53
dogem53
7 years ago

ok, I think BOB & JOHN will.have a far better answer for me,and maybe others on what my original post was about it seems. but I will ask this; 1. did the government at that time(KAYE was involved) respond in kind to the request fo intercode agreement changes? why not?(it is obvious they didn’t) 2.why was GAG  or maybe any group,refused açcsess to documents of the way the agreement was reached between government and grnsw. one scathing report I read indicates a refusal by the government of the day. 3. with the obvious calamity that exists today because of that… Read more »

dogem53
dogem53
7 years ago

the reason why I seek some background, is the way TROY GRANT spoke to mr. foley and challeneged him to go behind the sheds for a ”chat” and spat out the sentences….”well you guys were stupid enough to sign that agreement for 99 years,so blame yourselves”. that has stuck in my brain,and as a person who wants to know both sides always, I want to know that if the government FORCED the people in charge of GRNSW back then to sign,what was the real reason behind that forcing? and why cannot we get axcess to documents TODAY concerning how that… Read more »

dogem53
dogem53
7 years ago

…and the government is in control of that agreement. the government also knows that with one sweep of the old BIC BIRO,the intercode agreement deal can be washed aside. but they choose not to. why is this so?they know the industry,if given that 8% can reform,restructure,rebuild an industry that would still supply taxes to the government,better than say HARNESS people will ever do, yet refuse to help the situation because THEY FORCED that agreement. corruption of the highest order appears to be in my eyes. so simple to solve this issue today,and animal welfare is not the main point,because if it… Read more »

Deborah555
Deborah555
7 years ago

Todman  Definitely punching  above his weight anyway (in every aspect of his life I suspect) Todman

Deborah555
Deborah555
7 years ago

dogem53 JeffWhite4  Jeff as the world’s most boring troll blogger yourself that is fine praise for dogem perhaps you could cut and past these comments into “Jeff’s Freaking Boring Facts Book* in the last chapter so that after everyone has read the rest of the book some-one can read them this chapter and get them out of their self induced coma.  Sort of like a bit of a stimulant after reading your shyt.

BobWhitelaw
BobWhitelaw
7 years ago

dogem53 Q1  No, Q2&Q3  GAG were lucky they had the word from the man that  wrote the Cheque’s out to the three CODES  and to the Government of the day re the ICA and at the time of negotiations was herd to say the DOGS were DUDED  by their own. The Government then and now have been pressured by the other two codes to leave it (ICA) alone,so they did to appease the other two codes. (look at the Cameron Report).Q4 The Rumors have substance, credibility  of some are questionable and no doubt there was corruption   happening within GRNSW… Read more »

dogem53
dogem53
7 years ago

http://www.e-architect.co.uk/sydney/wentworth-park-apartment-building remember this story of a Sydney architectural firm winning anaward for design of apartment on the wnetworth park greyhound site? sent an email to them a week ago,seeking out if they were successful in winning the bid to do the design on that site. answer from FJ…….unfortunately we were second so did not get the business…………………. well, I wonder who did get the project that is supposedly not going to happen according to BAIRD and his staff? this is a green area for the people he says. maybe the apartment are painted green on the outside when erected….lol freeking… Read more »

BobWhitelaw
BobWhitelaw
7 years ago

The Governments failure to address the Admin Drain which is Strangling  the code, A GRNSW confidant  back in 2014 told i that the Industry could not expect to survive  on such Ballooned overheads. That year GRNSW allocated million to govern the Sport out of an overall pot of million .The confidant  said another marketing Staffer had just been appointed ,bob how many marketers do you need to run an industry which is bleeding participants on a weekly basis ? At the time GRNSW MEDIA UNIT alone cost million annually to run ,then there is ongoing costs such as the Integrity… Read more »

dogem53
dogem53
7 years ago

Peter Davis just put this up on Facebook… A critically important Greyhounds Australasia Board meeting will be held in Adelaide on Friday. Representatives from all states (and Territories) no doubt will have the closure of greyhound racing in NSW as their highest priority. The big question is who will represent NSW in Adelaide? Well it’s going to be Paul Newson! Now that your jaw has been lifted from the keyboard, just ponder what Mr Newson can add to the day’s debate. He was the author of a confidential letter to Mike Baird dated July 17 which asserted: “I am providing… Read more »

BobWhitelaw
BobWhitelaw
7 years ago

Dogem53                    If the Greyhound Australasia had the balls they would be saying to Newson don’t bother showing or tearing him apart for destroying greyhound racing in nsw that won’t happen as they have never put the industry first across Australia in any shape or form.Its just another piss up for the boys. Now for our face book man he’s no better than Newson  he’s played a big hand over the years for where we are today.Is it a further fact that he failed to disclose either a pecuniary interest ,or conflict… Read more »

BobWhitelaw
BobWhitelaw
7 years ago

Also we must remember  that corruption played little or no part of the Special Commission because of Rushtons agenda,  push by a close friend who now can not speak on any matter. It was (Animal Welfare witch hunt nothing else)  other wise we would have got a call up at the Commission to explain  our claims of Corruption within the industry,  that tells one this has been another cover up by those at the very top. Look who appointed the Justice in the first place HOGAN seen regularly conversing  with him at the Gallops on a Saturday don’t forget the… Read more »

dogem53
dogem53
7 years ago

……..BREAKING NEWS………

MIKE BAIRD SLIPS AT HOME AND DAMAGES HIS VERTEBRAE………

well,well, and what can one say. oh poor mike,how ya feelin’son. KARMA was present I hear…………lol….roflmao.(deb,what does that mean…..roflmao)gave you the tools.

now he will understand what real pain is. I have no compassion at all.

dogem53
dogem53
7 years ago

BobWhitelaw I am hearing you bob, I am hearing you.

must be some way all this can come to the front line and be exposed. is the so called legal representative for the industry up to spped on such carrying on?

should be,i fi was determined to seek justice,i would go back to the start and work forwards.

thanks for your input bob,but I go back to work today and will be hardly heard. that is a good thing………lol

BobWhitelaw
BobWhitelaw
7 years ago

The word Gangsters meaning members of a Gang of Criminals ( bandits, criminals, crooks, hoods, outlaws, i have no doubt, that’s what we have been  dealing with ? and today its when the EI.first hit the horses and racing stopped and  Guess who kept the TABs till ticking over the Greyhounds and Tax Revenue  for the Government and Baird,s  reward to the Industry thank you kindly i,am shutting  down  because i have no further use for it

Deborah555
Deborah555
7 years ago

dogem53  Just looking for the sympathy vote he’ll be fine in a couple of weeks I’m sure. Just like Obeid’s so called stroke, now the court date has passed I’m sure he’s feeling a lot better as well.

BobWhitelaw
BobWhitelaw
7 years ago

Baird and Grants  easy way out is to bury their mistakes of mismanagement of Greyhound Racing and the Deaths of many Greyhounds because of the Closure  its a very,very,sad day for all.