Gosford greyhound death sparks new calls for review

The latest greyhound death, at Gosford on April 25, has sparked calls for the State’s new Racing Minister and Member for Wyong David Harris to establish an independent review into greyhound racing.

The Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds says the latest racing death sends a “stark message” to Harris.

It is the 18th racing death on NSW tracks this year, signifying an almost 30 per cent rise in deaths compared to the same period last year, the Coalition says.

According to the stewards’ report for Race 7 at Gosford on April 25, Full Of It collided with another dog and fell, suffering a fractured foreleg.

She was euthanised by the on-track vet, two days short of her third birthday.

Since 2020, nine dogs have been killed and 486 injured at the Gosford track.

In its latest quarterly injury report, the NSW industry regulator – Greyhound Welfare & Integrity Commission (GWIC) – said it “is exploring potential reasons for the observed increase in injury in the last 18 months”.

The NSW State Government launched a five-year, $30M track safety upgrade program in 2017.

Despite this, NSW was Australia’s deadliest state with 59 on-track racing deaths in 2022, the Coalition says.

“Eighteen greyhounds have died on NSW racetracks this year and more than a thousand have been injured,” Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds (CPG) NSW Director Kylie Field said.

“89 per cent of the deaths were euthanasia for broken legs.

“Other dogs that were badly injured in their races will have been killed later at vet clinics, so the death toll is almost certainly higher.

“Full Of It’s death sends a stark message to new Racing Minister David Harris.

“He can’t ignore the worsening toll over last year, with NSW deaths up almost 30 per cent and major injuries up by 51 percent.

“This callous disposal of dogs’ lives can’t continue.

“Why aren’t these injured greyhounds being entered into the injury recovery scheme rather than being killed?

“Most fractured legs can be treated.

“The previous Coalition Government promised a five year, taxpayer-funded $30M upgrade program to make tracks safe.

“They’ve failed, and even the NSW racing regulator is concerned at the increasing number of racing casualties.

“Where did the money go?

“As Minister for the Central Coast, can Mr Harris say if the Gosford track meets safety standards?

“The Minns Government has already announced investigations into Sydney trains, Sydney Metro projects, and the Menindee fish kill.

“There needs to be an independent investigation into how the spending of tens of millions of taxpayer dollars has only resulted in more greyhound suffering.”

Field said another pressing problem was the re-homing crisis.

“GWIC has admitted that the current rehoming ‘challenge’ means there are over 4000 dogs looking for homes and only 1,000 homes available for them,” she said.

“It’s an unsustainable situation.

“The greyhounds of NSW need a Minister who will have the courage to stand up for animal welfare.”

Source:
Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds