AWLQ and Friends of the Hound say bringing back greyhound racing on the Gold Coast a bad idea

LOCAL rescue groups struggling to rehome unwanted greyhounds say building another track for greyhound racing on the Gold Coast will be a ‘heartbreaking’ step backwards.

LOCAL animal rescue groups have slammed a $25m joint proposal which would see greyhound racing brought back to the Gold Coast.

Yesterday the Bulletin reported a parcel of land in Mudgeeraba next to Firth Park had been proposed as a potential new home for the Gold Coast Show.

But the grounds would also allow harness and greyhound racing.

Jade the greyhound was surrendered to Friends of the Hound with an old injury left untreated- a broken leg. Surrendered by a Gold Coast owner. Photo: Friends of the Hound

Animal Welfare League of Queensland CEO Denise Bradley said the reinstatement of greyhound racing on the Coast would be a step backwards for the city due to animal welfare concerns.

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“It’s devastating news and a retrograde step for the future of greyhounds,” she said.

Nikki, one of nine greyhound puppies rehomed by the AWLQ earlier this year. Picture: Amanda Robbemond

“Due to a myriad of welfare and social issues associated with greyhound racing, as well as the killing of large numbers of dogs deemed unprofitable either before or after a career in racing, AWLQ urges a ban on greyhound racing.”

The shelter rehomes more than 50 greyhounds a year through its Going Grey program.

Murwillumbah-based Friends of the Hound rescue group rehomes hundreds of greyhounds each year through its foster program, and has 100 ex-racing greyhounds on a their waiting list to be surrendered at any one time.

Founder Lisa White said having a track on the Gold Coast would be “heartbreaking”.

The group takes in greyhounds from all across Queensland and NSW.

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Lisa White with greyhounds Mia, Molly and Badger. Picture by Scott Fletcher

“It’s heartbreaking to think that they want to build another track when … it’s the community that is financially and emotionally responsible for everything,” she said.

“The racing industry expects the dogs to be absorbed into the community. If they have money to throw around, it should be towards rehoming.”

Despite welfare concerns after the live baiting scandal in 2015, including the discovery of a greyhound mass grave in NSW less than a month ago, the NSW government recently committed $500,000 to funding the largest amount of prizemoney for a greyhound race in the world.

Up to 17,000 racing greyhounds are estimated to be killed each year in Australia.