Life ban for greyhound trainer over ‘sickening saga’ of dead dogs

A Victorian greyhound trainer has copped a lifetime ban after being accused of bludgeoning four retired dogs to death with a rock.

Four greyhounds were found buried in a pit at Ian Anderson’s registered kennelling property.

A greyhound trainer banned for life over a “sickening saga” where dogs were killed claims he’s been made into a “criminal but I haven’t done anything wrong”.

Ian Anderson has been disqualified from the sport after tribunal documents show he told authorities that four retired greyhounds were moved to Queensland to live as pets with his brother.

But Pacific Reef, Pacific Dreamer, Dark Stealth and Stealthy Flight were dead in a pit at his rural Kernot property, south east of Melbourne.

A Victorian Racing Tribunal decision states Anderson admitted to an Investigative Stewards inquiry in mid-2019 that he shot the greyhounds dead.

But an autopsy before the tribunal showed they died of blunt force trauma after being hit in the head with a rock before being buried in a paddock at Anderson’s registered kennelling property, on Loch-Kernot Rd.

Anderson, who did not appear at the one-day tribunal hearing in December where he was found guilty of nine charges including making false and misleading statements and misconduct, told the Herald Sun: “It’s all lies”.

Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell says the case highlights the urgent need for an inquiry into the industry. Picture: Rob Leeson

He said he told officials he intended for the retired greyhounds to be rehomed in Queensland, but his brother had a heart attack and told him to “put them down”, so he shot them dead.

Anderson denied bludgeoning the dogs, and said the industry “just bend the rules to suit themselves and they pass new laws as they go along”.

“They’ve just decided they’re going to make big fellas out of themselves and call me a criminal but I haven’t done anything wrong,” he said.

“The whole thing is so corrupt and so rotten I wouldn’t want to go back again.”

The recently published decision shows that Anderson told the tribunal registrar he wanted “no further contact about the matter” as the hearing was approaching on December 6.

“He would not be taking part in the hearing and was having nothing more to do with the greyhound racing industry,” documents show he told the staffer.

“The Registrar again tried to contact Mr Anderson, including on the morning of the hearing date, but in vain.”

The tribunal panel - including chairman Judge John Bowman, deputy chairman Judge Graeme Hicks and high-profile lawyer Josh Bornstein - found the charges proven and said they were “based upon dreadful behaviour with the potential to be very damaging to the whole reputation and perception of the greyhound industry”.

“It is so because of the blatant and unforgivable cruelty to the four dogs and the wilful dishonesty surrounding it,” the panel found.

“It is a sickening saga which warrants no further comment.”

Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell said the case highlighted the urgent need for an inquiry into the industry.

“A lifetime ban simply isn’t enough. These poor dogs suffered in one of the worst ways imaginable. Their skulls were literally caved in, and the industry needs to be held to account,” she said.

“I wish I could say I am surprised, but nothing about this industry shocks me anymore.

“On top of the unacceptable rate of death and injury on the track, in recent years we’ve also seen mass graves and live baiting. “Greyhound racing is rotten to its core and no longer has a social licence.”

A Greyhound Racing Victoria statement said: “This outcome is a strong example of our Racing Integrity Unit working effectively to identify and prosecute those participants who transgress the rules of racing and we fully endorse the independent Victorian Racing Tribunal’s decision and sanctions handed down.”