The 18 dogs we lost in November

Of the 18 greyhounds lost on Australian tracks in November, most deaths were due to euthanasia by on-track vets.

Fatalities state by state:
NSW  5
VIC    5
QLD   4
SA     2
WA    1
TAS   1

Once again, NSW leads fatalities along with Victoria. Note that Egyptian Kate was injured on 30 October but killed in November. 

Type of injury:
Five were classified as either compound, comminuted, catastrophic or severe

Number of collisions leading to fatality:
15, including one crash involving three dogs, one of which was poor Galway Express, who suffered a fractured left shoulder, humerus and elbow and must have been in excruciating pain.

These collisions led to eight falls and nine breakdowns, including Rebellious, who had suffered a right hock fracture on the FIRST turn and gamely carried on, only to break down in the catching pen. Although given a 90-day stand-down period, Rebellious is now listed with Greyhound Racing Victoria as “Retired (Deceased)”.

Where the majority of fatal injuries occurred:
The first turn – 7
Front straight turn – 4
Back straight turn – 2
Home turn – 2

Jilliby Skippy suffered a horrendous compound and comminuted fracture of the near side radius and ulna (in other words, a wholly shattered leg) in the third and last race of his short life.

Sadly a couple of greyhounds suffered only tarsal fractures, which presumably would be treatable, allowing the dogs to be rehabilitated and rehomed.

An unrecorded loss was Tah Bernard’s, whose sad and unnecessary death following a compound leg fracture while trialling in Tasmania was reported by several media outlets and the Tasmanian Parliament. This record is now under investigation after a witness report. Unfortunately, there is no race video of Tah Bernard.