In what part of our consciousness is greyhound racing ok? It’s not, yet this barbaric death ritual continues…
Animal Liberation’s Lisa Ryan and Richmond Greens’ runner Mandy Nolan both agree that greyhound racing is inherently dangerous and cruel and contributes to unacceptable and horrific greyhound injuries and deaths of gentle dogs, forced to run for gambling profits.
A now, a damning six-month NSW specific ‘death tracks’ report compiled and released by the Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds (CPG) has evidenced shocking industry data confirming an alarming increase to NSW greyhound racing track deaths and injuries.
Mandy Nolan says the report has obliterated any credibility held by Kevin Anderson, NSW Minister for Better Regulation & Innovation and his claims that the NSW greyhound industry had higher animal welfare standards than any other Australian state and territory.
Political spin cannot obscure damning statistics
‘No amount of political spin can obscure the industry’s own damning statistics. Between January and June 2021, NSW greyhound racing resulted in a marked increase in deaths and injuries across all categories (36 deaths and 1521 injuries), and we know their final injury fate will remain largely undocumented.
Ms Nolan says this shocking NSW result includes a 44 per cent increase in catastrophic greyhound injury leading to death and overall, the worst fatality rate in Australia with almost 50 per cent more greyhounds dying in 2021 than in the same 2020 period.
‘More than 2,000 NSW greyhounds have been transferred out of NSW however their fate has not been made public and we fear for their safety.’
Worst fatality rate in Australia
Animal Liberation’s Lisa Ryan says this is by far the worst fatality rate in Australia even allowing for the 11 per cent increase in the number of race meetings. ‘NSW racetracks are not just killing more greyhounds compared to 2020, but also injuring more dogs with an increase in all racing injury categories, with 1521 total injuries, 268 major injuries and 97 life-threatening injuries.
Ms Ryan says past claims by Kevin Anderson espousing NSW superior welfare and track safety standards, prove inaccurate and unreliable. ‘The NSW Coalition Government’s ongoing failure to implement promised welfare reforms emanating from government’s own 2016/2017 Greyhound Reform Panel Inquiry.
‘There is a failure by NSW Government and GRNSW to progress commissioned study, findings and recommendations from University of Technology Sydney report into track design and safety.
$30 million of public money for track safety not fully expended
‘The 30 million dollars of public money invested towards track safety in 2017 was not fully expended and provides at best, cosmetic and meaningless improvement in track safety and preventing greyhound deaths and injuries.’
Ms Nolan says things have to change now.’ Animals are not here for our entertainment or gambling profits,’ she said. ‘There are no safe greyhound tracks. Ending greyhound racing, injuries and deaths starts with us and will be the catalyst for change across NSW and Australia.’
The entire report can be accessed here: https://greyhoundcoalition.com/lethal-tracks-nsw-update.
To express your opposition to the proposed Tweed greyhound racing at Chinderah, contact Kevin Anderson at [email protected].
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