Greyhound deaths prompt more opposition to Greater Brisbane Greyhound Centre proposed for Purga, Ipswich

Shocking footage has revealed a greyhound’s final moments, running at an Ipswich track with a broken leg. The death has renewed local opposition to a $40 million racing complex proposed for the city. WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT

Four greyhounds have died at Ipswich this month alone, prompting renewed calls for the Queensland government to reconsider spending $40 million on a ‘state of the art’ racing complex for the region.

An industry stewards’ report from a race held on Monday revealed Tiger Shian, aged 22 months, died of a broken foreleg at the Ipswich track.

It is understood the dog fell entering the home turn and suffered a serious injury to the leg before being euthanised “on humane grounds”.

An earlier steward’s report from a race meet held at the weekend stated eight-year-old greyhound Special Bill “improved on the heels of another runner”, colliding with another dog as he approached the home turn, and was “severely checked”.

A post-race veterinary examination revealed a compound fracture to the dog’s leg. He was euthanised by an on-track vet.

Video captured eight-year-old Special Bill running with what appears to be a broken leg during a race on Sunday.

The death came just one day after an anti-racing track protest on Saturday March 19 — organised by Animal Liberation Queensland, PETA, Animal Welfare League Queensland, and others — which saw hundreds of people flock to the proposed track site at Purga, armed with signs reading ‘Pets not Bets’, ‘Greyhounds Deserve Better’, and the like.

Many protesters also brought along their pet greyhounds.

A Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds spokesman said the recent Ipswich death followed that of Final Assassin, who suffered a shattered hind leg on March 8.

He said nine dogs were injured on the day of the protest.

An artist’s impressions of the Greater Brisbane Greyhound Centre proposed for Ipswich.

Director of the welfare advocacy group Kylie Field said the recent deaths had only increased growing opposition to the proposed Greater Brisbane Greyhound Centre.

“Greyhound racing kills, it’s as simple as that,” she said.

“On Queensland tracks this month there have already been three deaths and 82 injuries, even though several races were cancelled due to weather.

“Greyhounds are considered to be disposable products.”

More than 72,000 people have signed a petition fighting the proposed racing complex in the two years since it was created, with the most recent signature filed on Thursday.

The Queensland government has touted the ‘world class’ development as one with animal welfare at its core.

When announced in October 2019, the government said it would reduce injuries, improve amenities, and demonstrate “the vibrancy” of the greyhound code as the only venue in Australia to feature three tracks — a straight track, a two-turn track, and a “much needed” one-turn track.

If built, the complex will be the world's most advanced and sophisticated greyhound racing facility.

A Racing Queensland spokesman said the state’s greyhound code had made “significant strides” in recent years, with the adoption of the Race Meeting Inquiry Scheme and enhanced protocols around the treatment of on-course injuries.

“In recent times, RQ has engaged with some of the world's most authoritative voices in track design and injury prevention to further inform its decision making, providing new and improved ways to deliver safer racing,” he said.

“Among the amenities to be established include the implementation of modern cambers and world-class racing surfaces, along with track radius and surface banking to be designed in a way to reduce excessive limb forces.”

“This is about providing a world-class greyhound facility for our animals and for a code that contributes more than $240 million to the Queensland economy on an annual basis and supports almost 1800 full-time jobs.”

Many have been fighting construction of the facility since it was announced in 2019. Picture: Supplied

He noted also that 1000 jobs were expected to be created during and after construction of the project.

Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds’s Ms Field said that despite promises of improved animal welfare at the proposed complex, “no racetrack is safe”.

The project is now awaiting planning approval.