Hundreds of greyhound lovers in southeast Queensland are gathering on 24 July to show their support for a ban on greyhound racing.
The event, Brisbane’s March for the Murdered Million, gathered over 350 registrations of interest within 24 hours of being announced.
Kris Farley of Brisbane said her greyhound Shay was taken to a vet for euthanasia at the age of 2 years old after coming last in a race.
“The vet refused to kill her and told the owner to give her a chance as a pet,” said Ms Farley. “The owner took her to the pound to be killed. When I picked her up at the pound she was on borrowed time.”
“Last February, over 700 Queenslanders rallied to show their support for a ban on greyhound racing – it is clear that this industry has lost its social licence in this state,” said Dr Eleonora Gullone, founder of the Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds.
“The industry has shown that it is unable to get tough with wrongdoers, with nearly half of the live baiters in Queensland having their life bans scrapped earlier this year.
“Furthermore, wastage in Queensland is just as bad as it is in New South Wales: last year’s MacSporran inquiry found that two thirds of the dogs retired in 2014 were euthanised.
“An analysis of Racing Queensland’s own race day reports found that 50 greyhounds were euthanised at Queensland racetracks in 2014/15, with a further 29 scratched from races because they were deceased. In the same time period, the industry adopted out just 57 dogs.
“Queenslanders don’t support an industry that kills more dogs than it rehomes. We want the Premier to put humanity and compassion first and shut greyhound racing down.”
The March for the Murdered Million is held in honour of all the greyhounds bred, used and discarded by the racing industry. It will take place at 10am on 24 July (Sunday) in Queens Park, Brisbane CBD. Similar Marches will be held in all major Australian cities.