Animal welfare issues harming NSW greyhounds
Over-breeding
There has been a 50% increase in puppies bred for racing in NSW since 2017
The re-homing crisis
The NSW industry regulator recently highlighted this issue, stating that in NSW in FY21/22, there were an estimated 1352 rehoming places available for the approximately 4719 greyhounds who needed homes.
A flawed whole-of-life e-tracking system
The Greens aim to pass a bill that closes the loophole allowing dogs to be transferred off the books on paper and disappeared in reality. It will enable whole-of-life tracking to ensure there are no more missing greyhounds.
Racing industry using banned breeding procedure
“Surgical artificial insemination” is illegal in other countries because it is regarded as mutilation, but is used in about 80% of greyhound breeding in NSW. It involves removing the uterus.
Lack of transparency and a culture of secrecy
- Censorship of race videos that show greyhounds being injured or killed.
- Refusal to identify which tracks meet minimum safety standards.
- Refusal to name those dogs injured in a race but later euthanased.
- Refusal to say how many dogs have been treated under the GRNSW Race Injury Rebate Scheme.
- Refusal to disclose how GRNSW calculates the economic contribution of greyhound racing and the number of employees.
Track safety upgrades aren’t working
- The $4.6 million flagship upgrade at Grafton has seen 4 dogs killed and 272 injured.
- The $455,000 upgrade at Taree has resulted in 5 deaths and 263 injuries
- Coonamble had a $100K upgrade that saw 27 dogs injured at a single racing festival in October 2022.
Racetrack data from Stewards' Reports
(correct to 27 November 2022)
NSW tracks recording deaths in 2022
Bathurst NSW 4
Casino NSW 1
Coonamble NSW 2
Dapto NSW 2
Dubbo NSW 2
Gosford NSW 3
Goulburn NSW 2
Grafton NSW 2
Gunnedah NSW 3
Kempsey NSW 1
Lithgow NSW 1
Maitland NSW 1
Moree NSW 1
Nowra NSW 2
Richmond NSW 1
Richmond Straight Track NSW 1
Taree NSW 2
Temora NSW 2
The Gardens NSW 6
Wagga Wagga NSW 4
Wentworth Park NSW 7
Total 50
Type of Fatal Injury
collapse 2
leg fracture 39
leg injury 2
shoulder fracture 2
skull fracture 1
spinal fracture 4
Total 50
Location of Fatal Incident
catching pen 5
post-race 2
track straight 3
track turn 40
Total 50
Cause of death
Deceased due to injury 3
On-track vet 47
Total 50
Images and videos below show scenes from NSW greyhound racing in 2022. The still images show fatal injuries.
