Tasmanian greyhound racing has been shut down after one of the worst outbreaks of kennel cough in years.
Kennel cough is a highly contagious disease caused by upper respiratory viruses and bacteria.
Greyhounds are at high risk due to the crowded conditions of the racing environment.
The American Kennel Club says the greyhound’s natural defense system is weakened by factors such as poor ventilation, cold air, and stress from travel or intense exercise.
Tasracing has confirmed that some greyhounds have “been overwhelmed by their infection” and post-mortems are underway.
More than 20 kennels have been impacted. Because Tasracing is only relying on “voluntary responses” from participants, the source of the outbreak is unidentified.
A Victorian racing participant told CPG: “some trainers down there wouldn’t know how to keep a kennel clean. Also they don’t scratch their dogs and it spreads through kennelling at race meetings”.
A former racing vet says the outbreak could have been caused by “No one vaccinating their dogs and no enforcement of up-to-date vaccination at race check-ins.”
In a UK outbreak, greyhounds died after their condition progressed to bronchopneumonia.
In a sickening attempt to spin the suffering of greyhounds, Tasracing’s CEO Andrew Jenkins in a news release praised “hard-working industry participants” for embracing the “restrictions”, which “shows just how much they love their racing animals.”
But they don’t love their dogs.
Kennel Cough Another Reason for Greyhound Racing End