Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds calls to ban racing

They raced until their bones broke, with one dog suffering an injury so severe a stewards’ report termed it “catastrophic”. With four dogs dead on Bundaberg’s track in 2021, an advocacy group is renewing calls to ban the controversial practice.

Four dogs have died on the Bundaberg track in 2021.

The Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds has renewed calls for a ban on greyhound racing after two more deaths on Bundaberg tracks. According to a recent stewards‘ report, two-year-old Mum’s the One and veteran dog Armby’s Dream were both euthanised by the on-track vet on November 1.

Mum’s the One, aged two, had collided with other dogs and suffered a broken leg, while Armby’s Dream, who has run 109 races and amassed $78,610 in prize money, broke its hind leg.

The Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds says the latest deaths make Bundaberg’s greyhound track the second deadliest in the nation.

Four greyhounds have been killed on the Bundaberg track this year, with 172 injured.

The group ranks Brisbane’s Albion Park track at the most deadly, with nine dogs killed this year as a result of racing.

Annie Hendley with two rescue greyhounds. Ms Hendley is calling for change in the industry.

State-wide, greyhound racing has so far killed 20 dogs in 2021, with 146 deaths nationally.

The coalition says most of the deaths are caused by curves in tracks.

“Racetracks are lethal for greyhounds,“ Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds’ Queensland director Annie Hendley said.

“These two dogs died a typical racing greyhound death, being euthanised with a leg injury suffered on a curved track.

“Seventy-five percent of greyhound racing fatalities occur at track turns, where the dogs often bunch together and collide.”

Ms Hendley condemned the State Government’s decision to pour millions of taxpayer dollars into a new Ipswich racing complex that features curved tracks.

“The only way to stop the suffering of these gentle dogs is to ban greyhound racing,” she said.

“Until that happens, the industry should act on what its own research recommended in 2017, that straight tracks are safer alternatives.”

The Bundaberg Greyhound Racing Club was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds calls to ban racing