A couple of weeks, Gold Plated, died. The cause of her death was determined to be from being muzzled on a 35 degree day. Having her mouth clamped shut from the muzzle, Gold Plated was unable to reduce her body temperature using the natural behaviour of panting. Nor was she able to drink.
“Gold Plated and 14 of her kennel mates were left muzzled and unsupervised by their trainer while he was out for most of the day. It was a miracle that only one of the dogs died.” said Dr Eleonora Gullone, Animal Justice Party Greyhound Racing Campaign manager and founder of the Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds.
“The potential dangers of unsupervised muzzle use are well known and include overheating and injury as recently documented in the Working Dog Alliance report.”
“In November last year several veterinarians testified at the NSW Special Commission of Inquiry into the Greyhound Racing industry about the inappropriate habitual long-term use of barking muzzles as a behaviour management device citing the strong welfare concerns of their usage.”
“Not only is this habitual and inappropriate use of muzzles causing significant stress to the dogs and endangering their lives, it is compromising their chances of adoption once and if they leave the industry.”
“The dogs are psychologically traumatised by being prevented from carrying out natural behaviours to relieve their stress and soothe themselves such as licking, chewing, or barking.”
“Essentially, these are torture devices and can be added to the seemingly never ending cruelties that this industry imposes on these gentle, intelligent dogs.”
“Not surprisingly, calls to have their use restricted have been opposed by racing participants, reinforcing the strong resistance to change that is prevalent in this industry.”
“And as if we needed one, muzzles are one more reason to call for Greyhound Racing to be shutdown.”
The Animal Justice Party policy on greyhound racing is to phase it out to a total shutdown.