Greyhound welfare advocates frustrated as another dog dies after SA government misses industry inspector appointment deadline

The death of a greyhound in the state’s South-East has reignited concerns of welfare advocates saying the government needs to deliver on promises it made during a recent inquiry.

On Thursday April 11, a two-year-old Greyhound named Marty's Delight was euthanised after he fell and fractured one of his legs during a race. Picture: Supplied

The recent death of a young greyhound after a racing incident last Thursday has reignited concerns about the dog racing industry in South Australia and raised questions about when the state government will appoint an independent industry inspector to oversee necessary reforms.

According to a stewards’ report, a two-year-old greyhound named Marty’s Delight was euthanised after a race at the Mount Gambier racetrack on April 11.

The stewards’ report revealed Marty’s Delight suffered a fractured foreleg after he fell on a turn during the first race.

He was later euthanized by the racing vet; it was only his second ever race.

Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds SA state director Elle Trahair said another greyhound was killed in a race on the same day as Marty’s Delight in Warrnambool (not pictured). Picture: Supplied

Four greyhounds have now died on SA racetracks this year and 245 have been injured.

These deaths and injuries come after the state government said they would appoint a Greyhound Industry Reform Inspector (GIRI) to oversee the implementation of 86 recommendations proposed in the 2023 Independent Inquiry into the Governance of the Greyhound Racing Industry.

This announcement was made in December last year, with Premier Peter Malinauskas saying at the time the greyhound industry needed to change urgently, or it would lose the broader support of South Australians.

“We will not be taking the industry’s word for it. We will be appointing an inspector to satisfy the Government that real change is happening,” he said.

The state government said last year they expected to appoint the inspector around Easter 2024 — as of April 19, 2024, no official announcement concerning the role has been made.

A Government spokesperson told The Advertiser that “the process for appointing a Greyhound Industry Reform Inspector is well advanced, and the Government will make an announcement in due course”.

However, following the recent death of Marty’s Delight, Greyhound welfare advocates have expressed frustration at the lack of an appointment after the Easter deadline was missed.

Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds SA state director Elle Trahair said the recent passing of Marty’s Delight serves as a reminder that “unchecked and unaddressed cruelty in greyhound racing is far too common”.

“The government’s failure to act undermines their credibility in addressing these issues,” Ms Trahair said.

“How can we trust the Premier’s concern about horrific instances in greyhound racing when they haven’t even fulfilled their own promise to appoint an independent inspector?”

The state government said last year they expected to appoint an independent inspector around Easter 2024 but have not yet delivered on their promise. Picture: Roy Van Der Vegt

Shadow Minister for Sport, Recreation and Racing, Vincent Tarzia, said Peter Malinauskas and Minister for Sport, Recreation and Racing, Katrine Hildyard, are not taking racing industry reform seriously.

“Peter Malinauskas promised in December that Labor would have an inspector in place by Easter 2024,” Mr Tarzia said.

“It’s now (past) Easter and there’s nothing but crickets from Peter Malinauskas and Katrine Hildyard with no appointment of the GIRI announced.

“If there is no GIRI, that means the rollout and completion of the crucial recommendations is already behind and delayed.”

According to the Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds SA, another greyhound was killed in a race on the same day as Marty’s Delight in Warrnambool.

“Mount Gambier and Warrnambool greyhound racing clubs have a relationship, both clubs killed young dogs on the same day, that says everything about this stinking industry,” Ms Trahair said.

A spokesperson from Greyhound Racing SA said that the organisation “continues to proactively work through the recommendations presented by the inquiry and looks forward to working with the Greyhound Industry Reform Inspector once appointed”.