A recent incident involving an accidental email has shed light on a troubling reality within Victoria’s greyhound racing industry: the euthanasia of healthy dogs. The incident, which involved the transmission of veterinary notes meant for a greyhound trainer to a rescue organization, has sparked renewed calls for stricter oversight and reporting within the industry.
In July, the notes revealed that a trainer had discovered their 12-month-old greyhound with a leg injury. Instead of pursuing medical treatment, the owner requested euthanasia without allowing the dog to undergo X-rays or further examination. Elle Fisk from Greyt Greys Rescue expressed her shock, stating, “We had requested a record of vaccination, so it was a real shock to see the word euthanasia pop up on the screen.” She lamented the age of the dog and the owner’s disinterest in treatment, emphasizing that once these dogs are no longer profitable, they are discarded.
This case is not an isolated incident. In September, the Victorian Racing Tribunal found a registered trainer and breeder guilty of bringing the industry into disrepute after having a dog unnecessarily euthanised in 2022. The trainer had repeatedly pressured a veterinarian to euthanise a greyhound with a reported lameness issue, despite the dog appearing healthy and standing on all four legs. The tribunal deemed the euthanasia “unnecessary” and noted the trainer made “no effort at all” to rehome the animal.
In another case, a trainer was found to have euthanised nine dogs between 2016 and 2019 without attempting to find them new homes and without notifying Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV). This trainer misled the organization by reporting the dogs as “retired pets,” leading to further scrutiny of euthanasia practices in the industry.
Concerns are not limited to Victoria; similar issues have arisen in New South Wales. A report by Dr. Alex Brittan, the former chief vet for the greyhound racing peak body, claimed that some veterinarians within the industry are complicit in the unnecessary euthanasia of large numbers of greyhounds.
Georgie Purcell, an Animal Justice party MP in Victoria, has called for increased transparency regarding the euthanasia of greyhounds. She plans to table a motion in parliament that would require GRV to report the number of dogs euthanised off-track and the specific reasons for such actions. Purcell criticized the current reporting methods, stating that the public is misled by broad euthanasia statistics, which obscure the reality that many of these dogs have treatable injuries.
Currently, GRV reports overall euthanasia figures alongside “racing fatalities,” which refer to dogs that die instantly on the racetrack. In the 2022-23 reporting period, GRV recorded 382 euthanasia deaths and 40 racing fatalities. Purcell’s proposed motion seeks to classify any deaths occurring within ten days of a race, training, or trial as racing fatalities, increasing accountability for the industry.
In response to the allegations, GRV reported a 47% decrease in racing fatalities and a nearly 40% decline in euthanasia instances over the past five years, attributing these improvements to their commitment to rehoming retired greyhounds. Furthermore, GRV indicated that its upcoming annual report would include a detailed breakdown of euthanasia reasons and non-euthanasia deaths, though it does not plan to reclassify racing fatalities.
This revelation serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing ethical concerns within the greyhound racing industry, prompting advocates and lawmakers alike to push for reforms that ensure the humane treatment of these animals.
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