West Tamar Council cancels Anthony Bullock’s kennel licence after his lifetime racing ban
One of Tasmania’s biggest names in greyhound racing has been dealt another blow after he received a lifetime racing ban. LATEST.
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One of Tasmania’s most prominent greyhound trainers has now lost his kennel licence, after he was disqualified for life from racing.
On Wednesday it was revealed Anthony Bullock received a lifetime ban after he was found to have used a pademelon tail as bait.
The West Tamar Council has since cancelled Mr Bullock’s kennel licence, which will come into effect from December 31.
The cancellation of the licence limits how many dogs Mr Bullock can have on his property.
The council’s chief executive, Kristen Desmond said the decision was made after an investigation into complaints of noncompliance with his kennel licence conditions.
She said Mr Bullock was issued a notice to explain, but he failed to respond to it.
“The council will now work with the Office of Racing Integrity to give Mr Bullock time to find suitable homes for those greyhounds still housed at his property,” Ms Desmond said.
Mr Bullock has the right to appeal his lifetime racing ban.
‘Stinking’ racing industry should be shut down: Greens
October 26, 10:30am
Tasmania’s “stinking” racing industry should be shut down entirely following leading greyhound trainer Anthony Bullock’s lifetime ban for baiting with a pademelon tail, Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff has said.
Reigning Tasmanian greyhound trainer of the year Mr Bullock had pleaded not guilty to an Office of Racing Integrity charge of “possessing an animal part capable of being used as bait, quarry or a lure”, but was found guilty by a panel of stewards.
He was disqualified for the term of his natural life and advised of his right to appeal.
But Dr Woodruff said Mr Bullock’s case was not an anomaly within Tasmanian racing, and called for systemic changes to the industry.
The Greens leader said her party had been on the record for many years calling for an end to all animal racing in Tasmania.
“The conditions have never been demonstrated to provide for animal welfare,” Dr Woodruff said.
“The industry is about using animals to make profit.
“It took drone footage from an animal advocacy group in order for this to come to light.”
Independent member for Clark, Kristie Johnston, welcomed Mr Bullock’s life ban, but said the Government continued to provide taxpayer dollars to prop up an unsustainable industry.
Ms Johnston called for an overhaul the of both the practices and the culture of racing administration in Tasmania.
“Earlier this year I drew Racing Minister Felix Ellis’s attention to the apparent terrible treatment of dogs at Anthony Bullock’s property at Westbury, which resulted in the Office of Racing Integrity to finally commit to an investigation of this facility,” Ms Johnston said.
“I, along with many other animal welfare advocates, have for a long time been calling out Mr Bullock’s appalling animal welfare standards and disregard for the rules of racing.
“The sad fact is that it took brave members of the community to release drone footage of the conditions at his property before the authorities took action.”
Animal Liberation Tasmania, whose aerial footage of Mr Bullock’s Exeter property preceded the ORI investigation, said that ensuring the welfare of those dogs currently in the trainer’s care was of the highest priority.
“ALT demands that those dogs whom Bullock owns be seized, and placed with reputable rescue organisations across Tasmania,at Tasracing’s expense,” ALT spokesperson Kristy Alger said.
“Bullock was a symptom of an avaricious and exploitative system; the industry should foot the bill for the rehabilitation of these dogs.”
“The entire industry should consider this a warning; you are on notice.”
Tasracing CEO Andrew Jenkins said his organisation would focus on working with ORI and Mr Bullock to ensure the appropriate care of greyhounds currently in the trainer’s care.
Mr Jenkins said the industry had zero tolerance for any type of cruelty towards animals.
Anthony Bullock disqualified from racing for life after pademelon tail found on training machinery
October 25, 11:30am
One of the state’s most notorious names in greyhound racing has been handed a lifetime disqualification from racing after a marsupial tail was found on a mechanical training apparatus.
Mr Bullock was charged under Greyhounds Australasia Rules (GAR) 159(3)(b) “possessing an animal part capable of being used as bait, quarry or a lure” after a pademelon tail was found attached to the apparatus on his property on August 3 this year.
It comes after damning drone footage was released by Animal Liberation Tasmania of Mr Bullock’s Exeter property in August.
The footage showed hounds without thermal coats in exercise yards during cold weather, dogs without bedding or insulation from the ground, and a number of animal carcasses including a horse’s head and wallaby in a ute tray.
As a result, Mr Bullock’s licence was suspended on August 5 by the Office of Racing Integrity “with immediate effect” until investigations concluded.
Mr Bullock was in September cleared of animal cruelty allegations.
In that outcome, the Office of Racing Integrity in a report found those conditions at the property “broadly compliant” with the rules of racing and animal welfare laws.
A vet visit found his horses and dogs were in a “generally acceptable condition” and no charges were laid, but the issue of the animal carcasses was set to be addressed in a separate report.
The Mercury has previously reported that Mr Bullock keeps 96 dogs at his kennels, and was ordered to take action in regards to “internal parasites in several animals” and dental issues found in one dog.
In a statement from the Office of Racing Integrity on Wednesday morning said a panel of stewards conducted an inquiry on October 24 into the circumstances surrounding the location and the seizure of the tail.
“Following the inquiry, Mr Bullock was charged under GAR 159(3)(b) ‘possessing an animal part capable of being used as bait, quarry or a lure’,” the statement said.
“Mr Bullock pleaded not guilty and after consideration of the evidence before the stewards,
he was subsequently found guilty.
“In accordance with Tasmanian greyhound local rule 159.1, the panel imposed the mandatory penalty – that being disqualification for the term of his natural life.”
Mr Bullock was advised of his rights of appeal.
More to come.
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