- Excessive breeding and killing of young, healthy dogs.
- On average, 20,000 greyhounds are born each year. Only around 3,000 of these dogs qualify for racing. The vast majority of the remainder are killed.
- Despite overbreeding and excessive killing, governments encourage more breeding with taxpayer funded breeding incentives.
- Mass graves reveal evidence of inhumane killing (e.g., dogs being bludgeoned to death)
- Dogs are abandoned in the bush to die of starvation.
- Dogs are sold to illegal dog fighting rings as live bait.
- Dogs are given to vet schools to be have their blood drained while still alive and then killed.
- Widespread Criminal Behaviour (Doping and Live Baiting).
- Dogs are live baited. Small live animals (possums, rabbits, cats, kittens) are used to encourage dogs to chase. These animals are tied to a lure and mauled to death by the dogs. Baited animals who have not died are sometimes kept alive with their horrific injuries for a later chasing session.
- Live Possums used as lures in “rolling cages” and used for months at a time until they are eventually live baited and killed. This is considered by those in the industry as “more humane”.
- IIlegal drugs and other substances are used so that dogs run faster. Substances include performance enhancing hormones, cocaine, amphetamines, and Viagra. These substances are injurious to the health of the dogs. Their use is an offence under criminal law and prohibited drugs legislation.
- Cruelty on the Track
- On average 4 to 5 dogs are injured every week on the track and large numbers are killed as a result of their injuries.
- In Victoria alone during 2013, 3023 were injured and 84 were killed following their injuries.
- Heat stress is a concern since dogs are transported in unconditioned vehicles, and raced regardless of the weather.
- Poor Quality of Life
- Greyhounds are bred in puppy farm-like conditions.
- Racing greyhounds are housed their entire short lives in small kennels similar to puppy farm conditions.
- They spend more than 23 hours of every day of their lives (except on racing days) in small kennels with only 2 periods of 10 minutes of exercise per day or to relieve themselves.
- Some have no protection from the seasonal elements and no bedding.
- They are provided no stimulation.
- A Cruel and Corrupt Gambling Industry Subsidised with Tax Payer funding
NSW: $13 Million in tax breaks; $1 Million in track upgrades
Victoria: $10.5 Million for track developments; $1.55 Million in breeding incentives
South Australia: $200,000 in government grants; $200,000 for marketing
Queensland: $12 Million in track development; $1.2 Million annually in appearance fees
Northern Territory: $800,000 track upgrades and prize money
Western Australia: $13 Million for new race track
Tasmania: $27 Million including two other racing codes.
- Industry Failure in Duty of Care
- The industry takes no responsibility for the care and rehoming of dogs who do not qualify for racing
- The industry takes no responsibility for the care and rehoming of dogs when they retire from racing, often at the young age of 3 or 4 years.
- Industry adoption programs are little more than a public relations exercise with extremely small numbers of dogs being rehomed.
- A small number are rehomed by volunteer rescue groups and the remaining thousands are killed.
7. Greyhounds are gentle, loyal and intelligent dogs who make
ideal companions.
They are not racing or chasing machines.