Trevor Leonard Rice handed life ban from greyhound industry over killings of four dogs found buried at NSW property

A suspended greyhound trainer has been banned for life over the “cruel and brutal” deaths of racing dogs that were found buried under garden beds and slab of concrete at a NSW property.

A suspended greyhound trainer has been banned for life over the “cruel and brutal” deaths of racing dogs that were found buried under garden beds and slab of concrete at a property in the state’s north.

Trevor Leonard Rice was issued the permanent disqualification from the Greyhounds Welfare Integrity Commission following an investigation into his handling of four racing greyhounds that were found dead at his rural property in Leeville, south of Casino.

Mr Rice was charged with 18 industry offences including using objects to cause severe damage to the heads of the dogs and providing false statements to the commission.

The investigation was launched In January 2022 after the commission received an anonymous report that Mr Rice had caused the deaths of a number of greyhounds in his care.

Inspectors attended a property that Mr Rice had previously used as his registered kennel address and exhumed the skeletal remains of the greyhounds.

A generic photo of a greyhound. Picture: file.

A total of six greyhounds were found buried at the property including three that were identified as former racing dogs.

A forensic anthropologist concluded the damage to the skulls of four of the greyhounds was consistent with “a person using an object to inflict blunt trauma”.

Mr Rice – who pleaded not guilty to the welfare charges relating to the deaths of the dogs – claimed one of the greyhounds had been killed by a snakebite and others “put down” by people known to him – a claim rejected by the commission.

During a recorded interview with the commission, Mr Rice conceded he buried one of the dogs under the concrete but when asked if remembered further details of the burial he replied: “No, not really. No.”

A generic photo of a greyhound.

In another interview, Mr Rice was asked if he recalled how one of the dogs appeared to have sustained blunt force trauma to its skull.

Mr RIce replied it was a “common thing” in the industry and that “you’d crack their skulls” - usually “with a hammer” - “so their [sic] break down quicker. I was always taught that.”

Mr Rice again strongly denied killing the dogs.

Greyhound Welfare Integrity Commission chief commissioner Brenton Taylor stated that Mr Rice’s changing evidence during interviews with the commission and his “obvious evasion of questions” indicated a “consciousness of guilt”.

The commission found Mr Rice was “responsible for the deaths of the greyhounds” and failed to notify the commission of the deaths of three of the greyhounds within the two day period as required by the Greyhound Racing Rules in effect at the time.

“Mr Rice’s failure to recall the details of the deaths and burials of these greyhounds is most likely an attempt by him to conceal what happened to these greyhounds in their final days,” Mr Taylor said.

Greyhound Welfare Integrity Commission chief commissioner Brenton Taylor.

“I cannot think of a more serious offence which could be committed by a greyhound racing industry participant than the wilful and deliberate killing of an animal.

“This is especially so, in my view, where the death was occasioned by committing a cruel and brutal assault to the dogs and one inflicted by hand.”

Mr Rice was issued a lifetime disqualification from holding a registration within the greyhound racing industry and was fined a total of $3350.

The disqualification means Mr Rice is banned from attending race meetings or engaging with other greyhound racing industry participants for the purposes of racing.

Speaking after his ruling, chief commissioner Brenton Taylor said the outcome sends “the strongest possible message about how seriously the commission takes animal welfare and the integrity of the sport.”

Latest figures show there are 18,300 greyhounds registered in NSW. In the last financial year, a total of 911 dogs were reported to have died including 522 by euthanasia and 367 due to injury or illness.

The commission stated it chose to proceed with charges under its regulatory regime, instead of commencing any criminal proceedings against Mr Rice.