Animal rights activists have welcomed the ban on greyhound racing in New South Wales but are concerned about what will happen to the dogs no longer required by the controversial industry.
Anna Ludvik, the Animal Justice Party candidate for Page in the recent election, led a protest at the Lismore Greyhound Track in February as part of a national protest against the industry.
Ms Ludvik told Echonetdaily that yesterday’s announcement from NSW Premier Mike Baird that the greyhound industry was being banned in the state was welcome news.
She remained concerned however that the ban could result in mass euthanasia of the unwanted dogs.
‘My primary concern is that these dogs are able to be re-homed,’ she said.
‘And on that point I’d like to commend greyhounds as fantastic family pets. They are very chilled out … they need a bit of exercise every day, they don’t shed hair and they generally like to laze about sleeping most of the day,’ she said.
Lismore’s Animal Rights and Rescue coordinator Suzanne Lavis described the ban as ‘brilliant’.
‘The amount of cruelty involved in the industry and the number of hounds that die every year is astounding but the same can be said for domestic pets,’ Ms Lavis said.
Neither the Lismore or Casino greyhound clubs responded to requests for comment on the ban this morning.
Meanwhile, Greens Animal Welfare spokesperson Dr Maureen Faruqi said the ban was a win for the animals.
‘Animal welfare activists have worked tirelessly for this outcome for so many years,’ she said.
‘I must pay credit to the NSW Government for taking this long overdue step.
‘The Special Commission of Inquiry report demonstrated the extreme levels of animal cruelty in the industry, including live baiting and the killing of up to 68,000 dogs over the last twelve years.
‘Thousands of people in the community have written letters, rallied at protests and let the Government know that they will accept nothing less than a ban on greyhound racing. This is a huge vindication of their efforts.
‘Today is such a special day and such a fitting tribute to my late friend and colleague, Dr John Kaye, who was a passionate advocate for animals and worked tirelessly to see an end to this cruel industry.
‘The report states what many of us already knew; there was no way greyhound racing can operate without the extreme animal cruelty that the Special Commission report has shown.
‘Our focus must now be on the welfare of the animals in the industry to ensure that they are rehomed and given appropriate support.’
Greyhounds are only selected to live if they can run fast enough. Thousands of greyhounds have been killed in the past 10 years because of their failure to run fast enough. Less greyhounds will be bred up if there is no dog-racing in NSW.
They have a lovely temperament, and hopefully many existing greyhounds will find kind homes.
Unfortunately for the greyhound the “ban greyhound racing” crowd now reap what they have sewn.
Given the numbers of greyhounds wantonly killed every year because they were too slow etc it is therefore safe to assume that greyhounds will now be killed in their thousands because they are now no longer capable making money or providing gratification to the owner.
What a wonderful outcome to end the cruelty. I am surprised and grateful that the NSW Premier took such decisive action – pity the other states won’t follow. Of course, Anna and Suzanne are right about the need to rehome such a large number of dogs which will be unwanted, adding to the already burdened shelters and foster carers. It would be helpful if there were also an immediate ban on breeding greyhounds in NSW, and mandatory immediate desexing to lessen the burden. I urge people to give generously to animal shelters now to help deal with the influx – and to consider adopting a dog already in a shelter.
Why is it universally assumed that the owners of racing greyhounds are entitled to abandon or slaughter them en masse when they can no longer make money? Is there any other recognizable group of people that would not be the target of outrage from all quarters of civilized society if they proposed to abandon, dump, or kill thousands of dogs? Why is it assumed that it’s someone else’s problem when race dog owners want to rid themselves of the animals they all claim to “love”? The very fact that such behaviour is considered unexceptional on the part of the racing industry is eloquent proof of the need to shut it down forever.
I have no knowlegde of this sport. I just do not understand with all the legislation [NSW Act 1979 & 2012] and government bodies monitoring animal cruelity this alleged practice has flourished for 110 years. These government bodies and the RSPCA have a lot to answer, if correct?
Mis-information is the norm so how can tell what’s the truth anymore?
I’m no great animal lover (or hater) but I really wonder what this argument is really about. How many Greyhounds exist as against how many Race horses exist? Where do all the failed later end up? There must be an awful lot more of the horses than there dogs and they can’t all finish as ex Police stock or someone’s pet.
“Please consider”
Peter Ryder
This is a great outcome it truly is but I feel that alot of these so called do gooder activists that care so much for these animals really need to look at themselves also… how many will they be adopting? I always wonder this. It is easy to be up in arms and carry on and pat yourself on the back but ask yourselfs will you really be there at the end of the day and take in some of these poor bloody dogs. I’m just about to buy a property and I’m seriously trying to think about what I could possibly do for any of these dogs. I’d really love to get the numbers of how many of these activist are really taking action in caring for them. I’m related to someone who went and carried on and I know for a fact they will not be taking any in but is always quick to expect everyone else to do it. The abusers should be accountable and the government but come on they are still saying there will be dogs getting put down. Where are these do gooders than. Will they come out in droves once again and line up to take a greyhound in… I highly doubt it… Resolve these problems and have solutions before you open your mouths..