Greyhound racing exposé The Little Grey Film screening in Adelaide on Thursday

Filmmaker Indy Davies adopted a greyhound four years ago, leading him to investigate an industry that has recently come in the crosshairs for animal abuse allegations.

“I challenge anyone who thinks greyhound racing is okay to watch this film.”

That is the message of filmmaker Indy Davies, who is bringing his documentary The Little Grey Film to Adelaide on Thursday night as part of a national tour.

It comes as the South Australian government considers the findings of the greyhound racing inquiry, which were handed down last Friday.

The four-month inquiry was sparked by covert footage of SA greyhound trainers kicking and terrorising their dogs, which Premier Peter Malinauskas at the time described as “patently inhumane”.

Filmmaker Indy Davies with his greyhound Georgie at their home in Robina, Queensland. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Spliced from interviews and raw footage, Mr Davies said he wanted to make viewers realise greyhound racing “is not a safe industry or sport for dogs”.

“No matter how much you know, there is always something shocking to learn about the industry,” he said.

“On average, five greyhounds die or are killed on a racetrack per week – when I found that out, I was stunned.

“At the time of filming in March, there were around 30 dogs that had died on racetracks, and that has gone up to more than 100 now.”

Mr Davies said he “didn’t know that much about” dog racing until he adopted his rescue greyhound Georgie four years ago.

“My experience with dogs, and I’ve always owned dogs and had them in the family, is that they’re happy-go-lucky and full of life,” he said.

“She was the exact opposite of that – very timid, low energy. Whenever there was a storm she would start panting and shivering and was quite timid with meeting new people and dogs.

“Despite that, she was always really friendly and I was really touched by that part of her nature.”

By reaching out to friends, mutual connections and welfare organisations, Mr Davies uncovered stories of overbreeding, mass culling and trainers using cruel and unusual punishments.

“I felt conflicted and compelled to face those stories down, but the film itself looks at the history of the industry and it’s also a snapshot of the time that it was made,” he said.

“Often I was shooting the film with my dog, so hearing about these things and then looking down at Georgie was quite emotional.”

He hoped the film would encourage people to consider adopting a greyhound, which he said were “surprisingly low-maintenance” pets.

‘That’s the other kind of feedback I’m getting a lot of the time, people telling me, ‘I didn’t realise greyhounds were like that’,” Mr Davies said.

“They’re super friendly, the most loving dogs out there – and also the most lazy dogs.

“Despite them being bred for racing and being really fast, they don’t really like doing that most of the time, but they’re certainly being forced to.”

All ticket profits will be donated to Paws for Change and Greyhound Welfare Initiative.

The Little Grey Film will be screened on Thursday, December 7 from 6:30pm at the Regal Theatre in Kensington Park.