Australian Greens Senator and Animal Welfare Spokesperson, Dr Mehreen Faruqi, has released figures showing that The Gardens outside Newcastle is the deadliest track in New South Wales. The second deadliest tracks were Gosford, Nowra and Lismore with six deaths each. Wagga Wagga was the most likely for a dog to die, with one in five race meets resulting in a dead greyhound.
Across all tracks in New South Wales, stewards reports reveal that throughout 2019, 63 dogs died on track and 2,530 dogs were injured in greyhound racing. The most common reason dogs were put down was a fractured hock, which in most cases should not require euthanasia. Dogs are being killed because they are no longer profitable, showing that the industry hasn’t changed.
Senator Faruqi said:
“2019 has been another brutal year in greyhound racing, with dogs dying across the state. Across NSW at least one dog has been killed and 48 injured on track each week, but the Newcastle track is the deadliest with 8 dogs dying for the sake of a bet this year.
“Greyhound racing can never be made safe for animals. We know that only half of dogs make it out of racing alive. Drugging and doping of dogs continues. The original reasons for the ban are still very much present. We must reinstate the ban on this so called sport once and for all.
“$41 million in taxpayer money has been sunk into greyhound racing and gambling industry since the Liberal’s backflip and dogs are still breaking their necks, spines and legs for the sake of a bet. I’m dismayed that taxpayers are propping up this bloodsport. At the very least, we cannot allow public money to subsidise the gambling and racing industry.
“This is the tip of the iceberg. Hundreds more dogs are killed each year off track with the Government’s annual report showing that in 2018-2019, 538 dogs died off the track from injuries or because they are considered ‘unsuitable for rehoming’, which is the latest industry euphemism for disposable dogs. We know 40% of dogs still leave racing in a body bag.
“Forcing dogs to run and putting them at risk of death and injury for human entertainment and gambling is unacceptable.
“We also know that many of these dogs die after suffering entirely treatable injuries, such as a fractured hock. The owners simply don’t want to pay vet costs once a dog no longer turns a profit which is appalling. These dogs are quite literally running for their lives.” she concluded.
Tracks, Deaths and Injuries (according to Stewards Reports)
Track | Deaths | Injuries | Race meets | Deaths/Meet | Injuries/Meet |
Bathurst | 2 | 118 | 49 | 0.04 | 2.41 |
Broken Hill | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.00 | 0.33 |
Bulli | 1 | 113 | 45 | 0.02 | 2.51 |
Casino | 2 | 122 | 50 | 0.04 | 2.44 |
Coonabarabran | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.00 | 1.00 |
Coonamble | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0.00 | 3.00 |
Dapto | 2 | 118 | 47 | 0.04 | 2.51 |
Dubbo | 4 | 117 | 37 | 0.11 | 3.16 |
Gosford | 6 | 141 | 46 | 0.13 | 3.07 |
Goulburn | 4 | 271 | 76 | 0.05 | 3.57 |
Grafton | 2 | 150 | 49 | 0.04 | 3.06 |
Gunnedah | 3 | 50 | 23 | 0.13 | 2.17 |
Kempsey | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.00 | 1.00 |
Lismore | 6 | 103 | 41 | 0.15 | 2.51 |
Maitland | 2 | 93 | 46 | 0.04 | 2.02 |
Morree | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
Muswellbrook | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0.00 | 2.00 |
Nowra | 6 | 134 | 46 | 0.13 | 2.91 |
Potts Park | 1 | 8 | 2 | 0.50 | 4.00 |
Richmond | 4 | 292 | 99 | 0.04 | 2.95 |
Tamworth | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
Taree | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0.00 | 3.00 |
Temora | 0 | 8 | 5 | 0.00 | 1.60 |
The Gardens | 8 | 250 | 99 | 0.08 | 2.53 |
Wagga Wagga | 5 | 84 | 25 | 0.20 | 3.36 |
Wauchope | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0.00 | 1.50 |
Wentworth Park | 3 | 338 | 101 | 0.03 | 3.35 |
Young | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0.00 | 2.00 |
Grand Total | 63 | 2530 |
