Animal welfare groups on the Central Coast have criticised the greyhound racing industry for allowing a race meeting to proceed on Tuesday, July 1, despite a destructive east coast low which saw torrential rain and damaging high winds.
“At least five dogs were injured on the night, two with major injuries (torn back muscle and shoulder injury),” a spokesperson for the Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds said.
“One dog that became ‘fractious’ in the starter box was forced to race.
“Human lives were also put at risk.
“With the immense storm battering the east coast of NSW, Fire and Rescue NSW urged people to stay at home.
“Many powerlines were down – particularly on the Central Coast.”
The spokesperson said with six weather warnings in place for the Gosford area, race videos show powerful winds lashing the racetrack.
“Racing was abandoned on the same night at Bulli due to the severe weather conditions.
“In another disturbing development, the Gosford stewards’ report refused to describe a fall as a fall, but instead described the greyhound as going ‘amiss’.”
The spokesperson said racing also proceeded at Sydney’s Wentworth Park on May 22, despite a severe weather system that had killed several people and generated multiple weather warnings, with the industry heavily criticised at the time.
The greyhound racing industry will always put gambling profits before animal welfare. Poor dogs.
More appalling evidence of the complete disregard for the dogs welfare. How can they do this? $$$$. Disgusting and disgraceful.
The vile practice of racing dogs for gambling needs to end.