RSPCA Fails To Acknowledge Ill Conceived Animal Welfare Dawn Raids
Neath trainer Margaret Bright received a huge surprise recently when she saw a team of strangers jump over her fence and invade her property in the Hunter Valley NSW. Bright was just one target of a recent RSPCA and GRNSW ‘crackdown' to bust alleged animal welfare issues within the sport. The search was reportedly one of three conducted in the area and has left local participants confused and irritated.
“On Monday morning I had people jumping my fence at quarter to six in the morning”, Margaret explained of the shocking situation, “I woke up and I just looked out the window to see what the weather was like and I had one guy in my front yard and one guy jumping my front fence”.
“I went to the door and they introduced themselves as RSPCA and GRNSW and I said ‘is there some problem? And they said, ‘We have had a complaint that there is live baiting conducted on this property at 5 o'clock every morning using possums, cats and rabbits'”.
“They went through everything. They checked all of my dogs, they asked me if I have any cats or rabbits and I said ‘yes, my brother has a pet cat called Jessie, my granddaughter has a pet rabbit called Arthur' and I said ‘other than that no'. They went through everything- fridges, freezers, cupboards….you name it”
“He said he needed to inspect my entire property. He asked me every question under the sun. We had to follow them around the property, they went through every shed”.
Ultimately, the search revealed nothing but healthy and happy greyhounds. With everything in perfect order, Bright wants to know why it was not made public that the raids uncovered no mistreatment. With recent allegations that the industry is rife with cruelty, corruption and collusion, releasing a statement on their positive findings could help to repair and rebuild the tarnished image and reputation of the industry.
“At the end of the day everything was perfectly fine, but why don't they say that we have inspected greyhound properties, we have found no mistreatment and no problems with it? That way the RSPCA is putting out there that they have won and that they are doing their job, but also that we are doing our jobs by everything being perfect”
“I asked were there any problems and if there was anything wrong and the RSPCA basically said to me that from every dog they saw on the property, there was not one dog that was in any bad condition. Their kennels were brilliant, everything was clean and they said ‘you can hold your head high'”.
“They have raided a few others and everything was fine but why don't they say the positive things like that? The RSPCA have raided, visited whatever word they want to use and all the inspections have found that there is no mistreatment of the greyhounds. So why don't they do that?”
The raids were conducted on Monday 14th October- the day before the ABC aired a controversial 7.30 Report that alleged a plethora of uncorroborated accusations from race fixing and doping to animal cruelty. The RSPCA took a high profile stance though spokesperson Jade Norris, who alleged that “40% of all greyhounds bred never make it to the racetrack”. There were also claims that over 17,000 dogs are euthanized each year because they are not fast enough to race. These baseless claims were left unsubstantiated with no clear evidence to support them.
It had been widely publicised prior to the 7:30 Report going to air that NSW greyhound racing was to be presented in a predominantly negative light. Given the RSPCA were actively involved in the development of the 7:30 Report story, and knew in advance of the allegations to be levelled against the industry; the question must be asked – Was the timing of the raids influenced or encouraged by the ABC's 7:30 Report? Did the RSPCA seek to manufacture a high profile media event to secure higher ratings and consequently justify its own questionable allegations?
Either way, the outcomes of the raids conducted by GRNSW and the RSPCA failed to make it to the air on the 7:30 Report; a report that many feel presented a one-sided and narrow insight into the greyhound racing industry.
“As a trainer I feel it (7.30 report) was a one-sided misrepresentation of the greyhound industry. It was disgusting actually. They showed no positives of the greyhounds. For people to get on there and say they took a bitch and they were going to drown the pups, that's just not called for. The other part, as a trainer, that I felt was bad was the actual fact that they showed the race at Wentworth Park. That should not have been allowed- they are one off incidents and that is not what greyhound racing is all about”, Bright said.
“I didn't understand why it was so one-sided. The RSPCA sees cases of cruelty probably more-so in the domestic animal world than in the greyhound animal world. If you got the figures from the RSPCA as to many were born, how many were put-down and the cruelty cases that come through there- they would be way higher than the greyhound industry. They are putting it all onto us but their rate would be a hell of a lot higher”
“We have people rehoming such as GAP, the Belmont Vets and numerous other greyhound adoption organizations but it (the negative publicity) is detrimental to us rehoming them- people are not going to want them as pets because the industry has been portrayed in a bad light”
Australian Racing Greyhound contacted both GRNSW and the RSPCA for official comment in aftermath of the 7:30 Report, but neither organisation would provide an official response.
Australian Racing Greyhound contacted the RSPCA on a number of occasions by email and phone to comment on the factors behind the raids, the timing of the raids, and the outcomes; but the RSPCA failed to provide any information despite assurances to the contrary.
Not biased at all are you Katherine?
A statement from an industry participant, via an industry website..Hmm sounds legit..
https://www.facebook.com/groups/220599121385324/permalink/430527287059172/
aaron the crossing kiwi that licks grey2k’s feet and u live in NZ now that sounds legit LOL go home
I would suggest you send a copy of your article to every politician in every state as this is common practise by RSPCA organising and doing “witch hunts”. When they arrived to steal all my pedigreed poodles, the RSPCA Inspector supposedly in charge of the raid but was not gave the order to “seize all the dogs” on arrival. I begged for a vet to attend and micro chip all the dogs and was ignored. 48 poodles were sold on arrival to RSPCA shelter and shipped out. There are greyhound kennels and a greyhound training track behind our property. RSPCA… Read more »
methinks they were looking in the wrong place… 3 unsuccessful raids does not prove this is a ‘good’ industry
hounded According to some figures provided “the RSPCA euthanased 14211 dogs in the year 7/2011-6/2012”. “in the period 7/2007 to 6/2012 the RSPCA Euthanased 99828 dogs”
Sounds like they would’ve been looking much closer to home
@AaronCross Sounds like your biased Aaron. Somebody states the facts of what happened on the day and reports it in the media and you say isn’t legit. Where is your facts to back your innuendo? read what was said the raid was based on a tip off that suppose to happen every day and absolutely no issue was found. when will the week minded begin to evaluate what is put out there and make up their mind based on true evidence.
Hounded should tell them where is the right place!
A lot of people don’t see the big picture that a racing greyhound is cared for better than your normal family dog. The only difference is we train our dogs to run.
KevinPitstock hounded
The RSPCA end up euthanasing animals because people make poor irresponsible decisions. The racing industry euthanases animals because its part of how they make money. Its totally disingenious to compare the RSPCA with the racing industry, one exists to help animals, one exists to exploit them. Of course the RSPCA come up short from time to time, as readers will agree, bad news travels far and fast, good news is par for the course.
But if the best the racing industry can do is attack the RSPCA, then knock yourselves out.
greyhound1 Sure, just stop sending your dogs and drugs here then. The number of dogs imported to NZ from OZ is double what GAPNZ can rehome in their entirety, without taking into account all the NZ bred dogs with nowhere to go as well.
@Geraldine Robertson The RSPCA are charged with similar responsibilities as the police. Would you like to also stop the police from carrying out their duties as well?
@Chris Tapp Do you have any idea how difficult it is to catch people live baiting? You cannot just ring them up and ask them what time its happening. And if you don;t think it happens you’re living in lala land.
Callan Oh you speak for all greyhounds in Australia do you?
Well done both of you girls, Margaret Bright and Katherine Ernst, What the RSPCA and GRNSW did, and have done. is totally out of order. The RSPCA should be looking at the wrong doings in their own back yard. We the Greyhound Owners Trainers and Breeders , love our dogs , to most of us they are like or children, we care about them. We don’t abuse them. I also rang the BBC station that showed the complete untruth of our industry, asked for a reply call to be given to me. I am still awaiting that call, but I shall not hold my… Read more »
chattypatty Thanks for the feedback. It is an issue that I am quite passionate about :-)
@AaronCross KevinPitstock hounded So that’s why two news stories have broken recently that the RSPCA has euthanased family pets because people couldn’t quite scrape together enough money on time? They were informed of a payment plan they could use, only to find out their beloved dogs had been put down- sounds like an organisation that cares about their wallets to me!
@AaronCross Obviously you didn’t read the article…… The RSPCA stated that “‘We have had a complaint that there is live baiting conducted on this property at 5 o’clock every morning using possums, cats and rabbits’”. If it happens every morning, wouldn’t it be easy to catch the culprit….. What you read is what you think was stated, that every trainer is live baiting. Open up your eyes, look at the article and acknowledge that the bias is from those people that read an article, hear a report or watch a show and don’t accept the FACTS that the 3 raids produced… Read more »
Who was the person from GRNSW? RSPCA don’t make a habit of jumping fences, they normally will knock in the door, was appropriate identification shown, I would be worried it wasn’t them all rather someone one impersonating RSPCA
Can’t believe how bogan dish lickers meetings have become.
why do the public want to think bad of all codes of racing?We don’t want to and cant be cruel to our animals they wont win races if we are!!!
did they have there sniffer dogs..?
No they didnt have sniffer dogs Michael. Appropriate identification was shown once on the property and there was one GRNSW employee and two RSPCA inspectors. The GRNSW employee and one of the RSPCA inspectors did jump my fence. It would of been common courtesy if they did knock on my door or even sound there horn at my front gate.Instead they scared the hell out of me!!!!!!!!
the dishlickers! In the late ’70’s early ’80’s I had a job at the Hobart track taking finish and parade photos for a private photographic lab based western Victoria. I had no previous engagement with the racing industry, but met a whole lot of really genuine people, and all were dog lovers. They frowned upon anyone mistreating dogs, and the internal dynamic was to the point and effective. Even in those days there was the perception the industry had to present a public image that was not only clean, but seen to be clean. So many of the detractors now… Read more »
RSPCA are not very well liked people
They are supposed to have a search warrant to search premises.
Did they have a search warrant ????
No Amanda they didn’t . When asked them didn’t they need a search warrant to search my house / property they said no. Once we sign as an owner/trainer we give them the right to search the property. I still can’t seem to find out the legalities of this.
They were gonna search without your permission ….surely thats not legal .
The thing with RSPCA is there’s no ombudsmen to complain to they are free to do whatever suits them. Maybe look up Mark Aldridge on Facebook he is from Adelaide but is rallying the government for reforms to RSPCA so they focus on what they are supposed to be doing instead of raiding innocent people without a warrant and without any proof.
@Chris Tapp Probably would have been best to leave GRNSW out of the loop.. A tip-off?
Sometimes people make false claims because of other reasons, but its up to the RSPCA to take a look to be sure. No harm done.
KatherineErnst KevinPitstock
Not biased at all are you Katherine?
A statement from an industry participant, via an industry website..Hmm sounds legit..
https://www.facebook.com/groups/220599121385324/permalink/430527287059172/
aaron the crossing kiwi that licks grey2k’s feet and u live in NZ now that sounds legit LOL go home
I would suggest you send a copy of your article to every politician in every state as this is common practise by RSPCA organising and doing “witch hunts”. When they arrived to steal all my pedigreed poodles, the RSPCA Inspector supposedly in charge of the raid but was not gave the order to “seize all the dogs” on arrival. I begged for a vet to attend and micro chip all the dogs and was ignored. 48 poodles were sold on arrival to RSPCA shelter and shipped out. There are greyhound kennels and a greyhound training track behind our property. RSPCA… Read more »
methinks they were looking in the wrong place… 3 unsuccessful raids does not prove this is a ‘good’ industry
hounded According to some figures provided “the RSPCA euthanased 14211 dogs in the year 7/2011-6/2012″. “in the period 7/2007 to 6/2012 the RSPCA Euthanased 99828 dogs”
Sounds like they should’ve been looking much closer to home
@AaronCross Sounds like your biased Aaron. Somebody states the facts of what happened on the day and reports it in the media and you say isn’t legit. Where is your facts to back your innuendo? read what was said the raid was based on a tip off that suppose to happen every day and absolutely no issue was found. when will the week minded begin to evaluate what is put out there and make up their mind based on true evidence.
Hounded should tell them where is the right place!
A lot of people don’t see the big picture that a racing greyhound is cared for better than your normal family dog. The only difference is we train our dogs to run.
KevinPitstock hounded
The RSPCA end up euthanasing animals because people make poor irresponsible decisions. The racing industry euthanases animals because its part of how they make money. Its totally disingenious to compare the RSPCA with the racing industry, one exists to help animals, one exists to exploit them. Of course the RSPCA come up short from time to time, as readers will agree, bad news travels far and fast, good news is par for the course.
But if the best the racing industry can do is attack the RSPCA, then knock yourselves out.
greyhound1 Sure, just stop sending your dogs and drugs here then. The number of dogs imported to NZ from OZ is double what GAPNZ can rehome in their entirety, without taking into account all the NZ bred dogs with nowhere to go as well.
@Geraldine Robertson The RSPCA are charged with similar responsibilities as the police. Would you like to also stop the police from carrying out their duties as well?
@Chris Tapp Do you have any idea how difficult it is to catch people live baiting? You cannot just ring them up and ask them what time its happening. And if you don;t think it happens you’re living in lala land.
Callan Oh you speak for all greyhounds in Australia do you?
Well done both of you girls, Margaret Bright and Katherine Ernst, What the RSPCA and GRNSW did, and have done. is totally out of order. The RSPCA should be looking at the wrong doings in their own back yard. We the Greyhound Owners Trainers and Breeders , love our dogs , to most of us they are like or children, we care about them. We don’t abuse them. I also rang the ABC station that showed the complete untruth of our industry, asked for a reply call to be given to me. I am still awaiting that call, but I shall not hold my… Read more »
chattypatty Thanks for the feedback. It is an issue that I am quite passionate about :-)
@AaronCross KevinPitstock hounded So that’s why two news stories have broken recently that the RSPCA has euthanased family pets because people couldn’t quite scrape together enough money on time? They were informed of a payment plan they could use, only to find out their beloved dogs had been put down- sounds like an organisation that cares about their wallets to me!
@AaronCross Obviously you didn’t read the article…… The RSPCA stated that “‘We have had a complaint that there is live baiting conducted on this property at 5 o’clock every morning using possums, cats and rabbits’”. If it happens every morning, wouldn’t it be easy to catch the culprit….. What you read is what you think was stated, that every trainer is live baiting. Open up your eyes, look at the article and acknowledge that the bias is from those people that read an article, hear a report or watch a show and don’t accept the FACTS that the 3 raids produced… Read more »
Who was the person from GRNSW? RSPCA don’t make a habit of jumping fences, they normally will knock in the door, was appropriate identification shown, I would be worried it wasn’t them all rather someone one impersonating RSPCA
Can’t believe how bogan dish lickers meetings have become.