Revelations about the barbaric activity have included details about the use of guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens, kittens and opossums which have had their claws and teeth removed so they can't hurt the dogs, being used as ''bait'' and being mauled to death in training sessions.
''I have been told 'anything that squeals will do','' an industry stakeholder whose identity has been suppressed said in a written submission to the upper house inquiry.
TV vet Dr Robert Zammit has backed up the claims in his evidence before the inquiry and RSPCA NSW chief inspector David O'Shannessy said they had also received anonymous complaints but so far they had been unable to substantiate the claims. He encouraged people to come forward with information.
The so-called live kill allegations are among numerous animal welfare issues including the doping of dogs and the mass killing of unwanted puppies that has been dubbed ''Australia's dirty little secret'' in one of the more than 400 submissions that have been received so far.
Greyhound Racing NSW officials estimate that 3000 unwanted dogs a year are killed. But other estimates are as high as 6000.
Greens MP Dr John Kaye successfully moved to set up the inquiry to scrutinise allegations of industry mismanagement, inappropriate distribution of TAB funds and widespread mistreatment of dogs in the state's $144 million-a-year industry.
Fairfax Media last year exposed allegations of race-fixing, drug use, money laundering and alleged criminal activity within the industry, despite reforms that had been aimed at cleaning up the sport. Stakeholders have raised concerns that it has returned to its murky past because of poor transparency and independent oversight and the privatisation of the industry.
''It is an industry that is starved of cash. It is self regulated and because of that is an attractive target for corruption pressures. The real losers are the animals, the owners, breeders and trainers who do the right thing,'' said Dr Kaye.
He said it had become apparent from the allegations heard so far, that the industry had been targeted by ''partly organised'' crime because it was seen as an easy opportunity to fix races in several ways, including getting dogs to lose.
He said the issue of rehoming greyhounds once they had finished their racing career was a problem with only a ''scandalously low'' number being found a new home.
The inquiry has also heard that dogs have been mistreated, starved and dumped. In a recent case, two dogs with tattoos showing they were registered to breeders and trainers or owners on Greyhound Racing NSW's database were dumped at Wagga Wagga.
Jeroen van Kernebeek, the Australian director of greyhound advocacy group Grey2K, said the responsibility for developing and enforcing standards for the welfare of animals should be with the government. ''This should never be left to an industry that has a primary focus to make a profit from the use of animals as there will always be a conflict of interest,'' he said.
Humane Society International also called for independent oversight saying that without it, the ''inhumane practices'' cannot be stamped out
(Armidale Express - Nov 24, 2013)
Related:
No comments:
Post a Comment