Research has shown that children forced to witness or participate in acts of animal cruelty can suffer serious psychological consequences.
Animal suffering is endemic in the greyhound racing industry and includes the injury and deaths of thousands of dogs on Australian racing tracks. Deaths are often the result of violent collisions and falls. Dogs also struggle across the finish line with major injuries including fractured legs.
Over 200 greyhounds were killed on-track in 2021 across Australia with thousands of others injured. For many involved in the industry, this suffering is seen as an inconsequential part of pursuing prize money and supporting the gambling industry.
Dangerous for kids and dogs
The racing industry markets greyhound racing as “family friendly entertainment”. This is a cynical and dangerous ploy to distract the community from the animal suffering inflicted both on and off the track. For those who witness the on-track injuries and deaths, particularly children, there will be a psychological impact.
The NSW Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission has now announced that 12 and 13-year olds can join the racing industry.
By formalising the involvement of children, GWIC is exposing them to possible trauma and paving the way for desensitisation to animal suffering.
Peter FitzSimons, SMH, 15 Apr 2022, You've got to be kidding (3rd article)
NSW introduces children to the deadly catching pen
The NSW greyhound racing “Junior Associate Attendant” position is open to 12- and 13-year olds and means these children will be allowed to stop dogs at the end of the race.
The catching pen is a well-known killing zone with 11% of greyhounds killed nationwide in 2021 suffering their fatal injuries in the catching pen. Greyhounds killed in the catching pen often collide with other dogs and suffer catastrophic injuries such as fractured skulls.
Boes Reward is about to die of a broken neck in the catching pen at the end of the race.
An Australia-wide campaign to capture children
Greyhound racing bodies in all states see children as a way to replenish the ranks of an industry that is fast becoming unviable and losing support from the general public. They target children in a variety of ways:- Greyhound Racing Victoria runs school holiday campaign
- Geelong Racetrack receives government funding for a children’s playground
- Racing and Wagering WA use children in marketing material
- Darwin Greyhounds uses images of children in online photo gallery
- Racing Queensland uses images of children in online promotion of greyhound racing carnival
Two dogs killed at Gosford Easter Fun Night
At least the kids won’t see another decapitated greyhound
“THE LINK”
There are regular and repeated acts of animal cruelty being committed by greyhound racing participants. This includes doping and the neglect of sick and injured greyhounds.
There is now established research showing a relationship between cruelty to animals and aggression towards humans. This has been referred to as “The Link”. Read more
Out of step with community expectations
In addition to children witnessing ongoing violence at racetracks, they are also being introduced at an early age to an environment which exists because of gambling. All surveys of the general population regarding public attitudes to greyhound racing show most Australians do not want greyhound racing to continue. This is reinforced by the reaction of the business community with 40 major brands recently stating they wanted nothing to do with the industry. GWIC is a government agency funded by the NSW taxpayer, most of whom would expect a commitment to child protection as well as animal welfare.
A global problem
The Irish Greyhound Board (IGB) encourages parents to introduce their children to the racing tracks despite them being gambling venues where dogs cry out in agony after being injured. The IGB markets greyhound racing as something that gives children “something new to look forward to and perhaps even a new hobby to embrace”. As in Australia, clubs attempt to attract children though a variety of channels. In Ireland these include school fundraisers and offering free meals to children who hold their communion and confirmation parties at a track. As highlighted by the Irish Council Against Blood Sports (ICABS), far from being entertained, children are likely to see dogs falling and sustaining injuries to legs, wrists, shoulders, backs, tails, muscles and toes.
A dying industry
Greyhound racing is dying and the industry knows it. In the US, where greyhound racing started around 100 years ago, it is almost over because people no longer accept the killing and cruelty involved. In Australia, industry participants are aging. Younger people with their greater awareness of, and opposition to, animal cruelty are not interested in becoming involved.