What are the RSPCA’s real motives?

DO you know the RSPCA balance sheet shows a total equity of $100 million, which includes cash, term deposits, a share portfolio and investment property. Last year it booked a surplus of $5.9 million after expenses of $46 million. A Fairfax report by Michael West suggests “as far as liquidity goes, this is the Sultan of Brunei of Australian charities”.

Elsewhere, it reports a NSW kill rate for dogs of 24%, considerably higher than in other states, and due mostly to what it called “behavioural” reasons.

No doubt the RSPCA does much fine work but figures like that indicate the big problem the community has in dealing with its animals – whether greyhounds or any other animal.

It does offer a little perspective for the many comments made by Special Commission lawyers about community “expectations”. These are always no more that assertions or personal opinions, not carefully researched findings, and should be treated as such.

Still on the RSPCA, its representative went to some trouble at the Commission to list what he thought were racing injury figures. However, he drew no conclusions nor did he call for any particular action. The speech served no other purpose than to show that some greyhounds suffer injuries when racing. This is hardly news as greyhounds are the athletes of the dog world, although undoubtedly in much better condition than the rest. Also undoubtedly, they would receive much better medical attention than other common breeds.

At no stage, either currently or during the course of the earlier Parliamentary Inquiry, has the RSPCA been able to come up with definitive, across-the-board data so all it is doing is moaning and groaning, while offering very few constructive suggestions. This is a waste of its latent power and influence. Far better for it to develop more comprehensive objectives, in conjunction with racing authorities, to further the cause of both the greyhound and the racing it enjoys. At face value, it purports to do this, yet all we hear are negative criticisms and put-downs, often poorly based. As a consequence, RSPCA sets itself up as the enemy rather than as a partner in greyhound racing – a fight which it will not win.

Too often we hear the view from the top that the RSPCA simply does not like greyhound racing. That is counter-productive for all parties and it is time it got over it. Certainly, greyhound racing has done the wrong thing in the past and will probably make mistakes in the future. But the critical thing is not so much the errors but what you do about them.

To digress a little, the RSPCA also opposes jumps races at the gallops, yet it is hard to a word it has ever said about cross country which is both an amateur and a professional sport with a large following here and around the world and a prime position at the Olympics. Arguably, the demanding cross country circuits are far riskier than a carefully supervised hurdle race. How inconsistent is that?

Breeding – over or under?

The story continues on a daily basis. On Sunday at Sale the two maiden events boasted only five and six starters. Two other Sale races and three at were also short of a full field. The night before, Wentworth Park had one short field but got away with it when five of the 10 races were drawn without reserves.

topped its program (which had two short fields) with a Country () to City final over 725m which offered possibly the worst standard field ever seen in town. The winner ran 43.61, which was 24 lengths outside the record, and at its previous four starts had run 6th, 8th, 6th and 5th. Calling it a final was pretty ambitious as they ran only one heat at Shepparton and all eight starters got a go in town. Wentworth Park did little better as its two distance heat winners recorded only 42.85 and 42.94 (record 41.52).

Oh, for a sire of stayers!

Nevertheless, the longstanding shortage of starters and the opportunities offered to lower standard dogs makes a mockery of ill-considered claims about over-breeding. While there should be support for programs aimed at reducing breeding from low quality or aged animals the big picture shows that there is some equilibrium between the number of dogs and the number of races.

Absolutely, attention should be devoted to looking after unrequired dogs but to pin down so-called “wastage” problems to overbreeding is to miss the mark completely.

Slow learners

Sadly, promising youngster Allen Phanto came to grief on the first turn at The Meadows last Saturday. A broken tibia and fibula caused it to be euthanased at the track.

More worryingly, it immediately went into the FastTrack-GRV records as “Retired”, thereby distorting future data summaries. So quickly did this happen that it seems GRV computers are pre-programmed to change the classifications. This equates to the instructions to NSW stewards to omit trackside deaths from their meeting reports – something which was heavily criticised by all and sundry at the Special Commission, include the CEO.

We noted a similar incident some weeks back after a death at a Sandown meeting.

The cause of the accident at The Meadows was a squeeze towards the inside as the field went past the judge the first time. Allen Phanto was the meat in the sandwich. Luck played a part, of course, but that symptom is typical of The Meadows track where runners have to perform brilliantly to get across from outside boxes as the bunny disappears around the tight turn. (Which is why outside boxes provide fewer winners than other circle tracks. has a similar problem but for a different reason. These are design problems).

All of which is one of the reasons why greyhounds statistics are so unreliable.

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Darryl Hancock
Darryl Hancock
8 years ago

Hugh_ Darryl Hancock BarbaraWindsor PhillipMarkou http://www.rspca.org.au/sites/default/files/website/The-facts/Statistics/RSPCA_Australia-Annual_Statistics_2013-2014.pdf. Animals Australia website still claims 18000 greyhounds are killed each year, which has already been debunked by the live baiting enquiries who had assumed every greyhound that hadn’t raced for 6 months was dead, the real number is closer to 3000. Big sensational headlines into mass graves of greyhounds near bundaberg where 155 carcasses were found, pity only 3 were greyhounds. Never a follow-up story to clear the air. Just naughty greyhound people (who have been charged). After illegally planting hidden cameras for six months at trialling tracks around the country and claiming 90% of people are… Read more »

Hugh_
Hugh_
8 years ago

John Tracey Hugh_ Dezzey Did you actually read that?  It has nothing to do with animal welfare, it’s about preservation of biodiversity, and even then, it’s simply stating that rare and endangered species will be given extra consideration.  The words “animal welfare” may be used (in this translation), but there is nothing relating to the suffering of animals under any sort of animal related business.  The idea that animals are sentient is not a mainstream idea in China, thus suffering of animals is largely not considered a problem. I get what you’re saying but I disagree and think that we simply shouldn’t… Read more »

John Tracey
John Tracey
8 years ago

Hugh_ John Tracey Dezzey Read Further the following prompt which shows the existing animal welfare resumes in China and advances animal welfare in its draft. http://www.aldf.org/downloads/ChinaCrueltytoAnimalsProposal3-10.pdf Also read the Status of Animal Protection in China a paper presented at the International Conference on Social Sciences and E Protection Sept 2014. The racehorses have international forums which welcome Asia (including China). We should in my view adopt an more advanced posture. It is worth noting that the United Nations is welcoming all in the tent and it sanctions certain members. GA should reconstitute its international conferences in my view.  Merry Xmas and a Happy… Read more »

PhillipMarkou
PhillipMarkou
8 years ago

Hugh_ Darryl Hancock BarbaraWindsor PhillipMarkou  hugh I don’t have a figure no one does….they figure animals groups are spitting out is plucked from thin air… you will find doubt there is 17000 greyhounds born each year but they claim this amount is put down each year..there bs lies don’t even add up or make sense and the gullible morons like Barbara follow blindly like sheep. baaaaaaaa baaaaaa maybe you understood that Barbara…shit even her name sound like a sheep.

PhillipMarkou
PhillipMarkou
8 years ago

BarbaraWindsor PhillipMarkou  my feeling aint hurt sweety but yours are obviously…where is your proof hun…your figures you quote aint from us as you claim.. you have done no research into this matter and yet you make claims like they are the truth…defrauding the public out of millions of dollars like animals Australia do is ok with you Barbara??? is it ok to tell lies to drum up support and donation money….all you can do is throw out bs stories and lies… and why be so racist for barb. have you been to Asian countries are you saying all Asian people are… Read more »

PhillipMarkou
PhillipMarkou
8 years ago

BarbaraWindsor PhillipMarkou  baaaaaaaaaa baaaaaaaaaaa baaaaaaaaaaa there goes the sheep….with the research you must of done think this is about right…brain size would be the same as a sheep….your name even suits…BAAAAAAAAAAAAARBAAAAAARAAAAAAAAAAA

PhillipMarkou
PhillipMarkou
8 years ago

Qantas may want to rethink it stance….making that choice off the back of animals Australia’s lies does not look good…what looks worse is discriminating and being racist to 1billion plus potential customers…doubt many chinese will be flying Qantas in the future once this is plastered all over china’s social media sites…also don’t think shareholders will like the decision made by alan joyce specially since they are already pissed off with him for increasing his salary to 12million a year…plus benefits….and with all the probs with china of late with planes flying in chinese airspace this might escalate to a bigger problem…I… Read more »

PhillipMarkou
PhillipMarkou
8 years ago

here is a stat for you barb…and comes from RSPCA and from the greyhound commission inquiry….. out of all animal abuse cases  the RSPCA receive (I think the figure is something around 30000 cases) 50% of these relate to dogs….out of the 50% only 1-2% relate to greyhounds…so on these stats we can clearly see most animal abuse cases come from pet owners like yourself..so if your theory and ideas on racing are also looked at for pet owners then all you pet owners should be investigated.. and according to you if all is fair then these pet owners should… Read more »

Hugh_
Hugh_
8 years ago

John Tracey Hugh_ Dezzey You’re going to have to point out to me where the “existing” welfare laws are described in that document, as I don’t have time to read it all right now and at a glance it appears that the entire thing is a proposal, the introduction of which acknowledges that the country lacks welfare standards. It’s great that there are actually people in China pushing to improve welfare standards, I never disputed that, but it hasn’t happened yet, and I see no reason to think that it’s an inevitability in any foreseeable time frame.  You should also be aware… Read more »

PhillipMarkou
PhillipMarkou
8 years ago

Hugh_  please show me your proof of everything you claim….I will show you mine if you show me yours…I have mountains of proof AA and other groups lie directly to the public to gain support and donation money.. I can also disprove 90% of statements made by these groups…where is your proof please.. please provide evidence.

Hugh_
Hugh_
8 years ago

PhillipMarkou Hugh_ I haven’t made any claims about numbers.  I don’t know what the numbers are, from what I’ve read it seems no one does, but you seem to think you do, so I’m simply asking you to share your sources so that we can all be better informed.

Actually my reply was to Darryl, but I guess it applies to you now that you’ve made claims of having “proof”.

PhillipMarkou
PhillipMarkou
8 years ago

Hugh_ PhillipMarkou  no I never said I did in regards to figures (born and put down) don’t put words in my mouth….but yes I do have proof AA have lied….which in turn is fraud…I would love a platform to show this country the lies told…would you like me to start with this 7.30 report…..or shall I go back to the start to include groups like grey2kusa and the alignment  between them and the groups here in oz…

Hugh_
Hugh_
8 years ago

PhillipMarkou Hugh_ Make a website, upload your “proof”, whether it be scanned documents, video footage, audio recordings, public records, whatever it is.  Put it up there and then send us all the link.  Post it on Facebook, post it on forums, send it to media outlets.  What’s stopping you?  If you really have such proof then I genuinely want to see it.

I await the publication of your “poof”.  Make it happen.

PhillipMarkou
PhillipMarkou
8 years ago

Hugh_  scott parker met wth grey2kusa founders…immediately after the meeting grey2kusa used scotts image and name to try damage racing reputation…..within 2 weeks later the media and animal welfare groups were given a classified letter from scott parker to SA GREYS..in this letter it said 17000 greys were killed each year…when questions scotts answer was im not sure we just made up the figure…possible he was paid to leak these lies to the media…would love his bank accounts checked by police….does this not seem suss to you.???

Hugh_
Hugh_
8 years ago

PhillipMarkou Hugh_ Source?

PhillipMarkou
PhillipMarkou
8 years ago

Hugh_ PhillipMarkou  ok lets talk about this 7.30 report….and the footage shown to the world……for starers the footage showing the greys being euthanized and abused was taken from youtube and not by animals Australia…it is footage that is for one several years old and of Vietnam not macau china….second if the footage is watched carefully the person with a camera attached to them is taking part in the cruelty again suss much?? third point in a country like Vietnam where they are so poor and dog meat is considered a delicacy do you think they would poison the dogmeat so it… Read more »

PhillipMarkou
PhillipMarkou
8 years ago

Hugh_ PhillipMarkou  no source on this just common sense….if I had police powers I will have the proof…I cant look up his bank account details… do u have common sense or you let media think for you….

PhillipMarkou
PhillipMarkou
8 years ago

Hugh_ PhillipMarkou  he openly admitted to not knowing the figures and that he made them up and lied…yet he still has his job even when credibility is questioned…grey2kusa spread a lot of money around while here on their “fact finding mission”

PhillipMarkou
PhillipMarkou
8 years ago

Hugh_ PhillipMarkou  you say source to me????? were are yours about the lies against racing?

PhillipMarkou
PhillipMarkou
8 years ago

Hugh_ PhillipMarkou  where is your source racing has a overbreeding problem???? and also animal abuse is widespread??? show me your proof and source for all these claims made by idiots like you that have no idea and just followed blindly like sheep….

PhillipMarkou
PhillipMarkou
8 years ago

Hugh_ PhillipMarkou  rspca claim to receive 30k cases about animal abuse 50% relate to dogs/….out of that 1-2% are from the greyhound breed…so pet owners cause more animal abuse than racing folk…so the focus should be on pet owners not racing people…on these stats from the rspca you pet owners would be best to drop off your dogs to the rspca and let a greyhound racing person look after them properly.

PhillipMarkou
PhillipMarkou
8 years ago

John Tracey Dezzey  thank john made it very clear for the people. all AA are good for are lying to get dontaions money and support.

PhillipMarkou
PhillipMarkou
8 years ago

Hugh_ stop being racist to Asians.

Hugh_
Hugh_
8 years ago

PhillipMarkou Hugh_ I didn’t make that claim so why are you asking me for a source? I’ve argued largely about principles, where I have made a specific claim, if you want a source, ask for it, but you’ll have to address a claim I actually made, not one I haven’t. You call me a sheep and accuse me of blindly believing the media.  Where have I parroted some unsubstantiated media claim?  You’re accusing me of this because I don’t just accept the claims you make? Do you honestly consider yourself a credible source?  An anonymous person on a forum making grandiose… Read more »

PhillipMarkou
PhillipMarkou
8 years ago

John Tracey Hugh_ Dezzey  if AA think this way about Asian countries are they bringing all the dogs back from macau to Australia…the bloke rehoming dogs in macau are they going to take his greys off him and ship them back to oz…where good Australian people would look after them……lol AA is being racist and discriminating against Asian people..and silly QANTAS wants to step in the middle…big mistake QANTAS..

PhillipMarkou
PhillipMarkou
8 years ago

Hugh_ John Tracey Dezzey  could say the same about animals Australia using the word “Welfare”

PhillipMarkou
PhillipMarkou
8 years ago

Hugh_ John Tracey Dezzey  that is because your head is so far up your own ass it cant actually think logically….I will never be racist and discriminate against people of this world like you do….you think your superior to other nations and its people….what make you so special hugh……oh my last words to you because I can tell its a waste of time……………..I AM RIGHT.

Hugh_
Hugh_
8 years ago

PhillipMarkou Hugh_ Ok sure, lets talk about that. Firstly, can you please provide the link to the video?  Until I can only respond to some of what you say: Firstly, the idea that because a given animal species is eaten in a country means that every animal of that species that is killed will be used for food is a logical fallacy.  One doesn’t necessarily follow from the other.  It would depend on whether the people involved had the time to create a meat supply side business, if it was economically viable, and if they were inclined to do so.  Do… Read more »

Hugh_
Hugh_
8 years ago

PhillipMarkou Hugh_ Get a grip.

John Tracey
John Tracey
8 years ago

Hugh_ John Tracey Dezzey On the Submission of an Experts’ Proposal to the StandingCommittee of the National People’s Congress to Pass a‘Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Law’Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress: The point you are making on the proposal and you are right the article is critical of the lack of cruelty to animal regulations contained in the protection act. My disagreement with you is that you are discounting the expert proposal which is an evolvement from the proposals to congress in 2008 and then 2009. In the older cultures things advance through proposals and move slowly it is very… Read more »

Hugh_
Hugh_
8 years ago

Darryl Hancock Hugh_ BarbaraWindsor PhillipMarkou Can you please provide a source for this 3000 you claim.  I’m not trying to cast doubt, I just want to know where the information comes from.  I’m perfectly open to the possibility that this figure of 17000 or 18000 is false.  But at least we know what the source of that information is:  An internal GA memo.  What source are you drawing from for your alternative figure?  Please share.

Hugh_
Hugh_
8 years ago

John Tracey Hugh_ Dezzey John I’m not really sure what you’re saying to be honest.  I understand that progress is happening, I understand that these things take time, but I disagree with an ongoing live export industry to places where the welfare laws are not YET up to our standards. “My take is that to achieve improvements in animal welfare it is better for the greyhounds to include Asia in the international greyhound family and work through the forums and trade agreement’s like the wider thrust involving trade agreements and welfare rights generally.” Perhaps I misunderstood your original comment, but I took… Read more »

John Tracey
John Tracey
8 years ago

Hugh_ John Tracey Dezzey My take is that the Asian countries that have greyhounds should return as a part of the international conference of Greyhounds which was the situation with GA when it was a secretariat for the greyhound regulatory boards in conference up to (2003) and beyond. It is noted that the Australian Federal Government recognises these countries as being eligible to take Australian live animal exports. Companion dogs are passed subject to various conditions and these dogs make up expensive pure bred dogs other than greyhounds as well and dogs travelling with passengers returning to China or taking their companions… Read more »

Hugh_
Hugh_
8 years ago

John Tracey Hugh_ Dezzey Well, I agree that what you prefer would be an improvement.

As for my stance, yes, it would mean that, and I would very much like to see an end to many of our live export industries, I don’t reserve this opinion for greyhounds.  It’s a much larger problem with food animals, and it’s clear that what guidelines have been put in place to try and address this are inadequate and tokenistic, with zero penalties for breaches.