Tasmania greyhounds: Concerns more greyhounds will die under adoption scheme change

Changes to the state’s greyhound adoption program would result in more dogs dying needlessly, MPs and animal activists say as calls grow for the racing industry to be shut down.

Fran Chambers with greyhound Izzy and Elise Tollard with greyhound Nina. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

CHANGES to the state’s greyhound adoption program would result in more dogs dying needlessly, MPs and animal activists say.

But the industry says the document is a draft and only dogs behaviourally unsuitable for rehoming would face euthanasia.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor, Clark federal MP Andrew Wilkie and greyhound owners spoke out after leaked documents indicated that the successful Greyhound Adoption Program would be recast.

The document said not all former racing dogs would be rehomed and “difficult” decisions would need to be made for dogs with behavioural issues that would be hard to find homes for.

Ms O’Connor said it was a clear end to the program’s “no kill” objective.

“The leaked document – sent to GAP staff without any consultation – shows that policy will be abandoned and many more dogs will be killed as a result.

Elise Tollard of Hobart with her greyhound Nina. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“Until the industry is shut down, these gentle dogs will keep being injured, disappearing or killed on and off the track.”

Mr Wilkie said the industry needed to be shut down.

“It’s systemically cruel, it’s cruel by design. It is an industry that should be shut down because the only way to end the cruelty is to end the industry,” he said.

Fran Chambers from Let Greyhounds Run Free said she was worried about the future of the program.

“Greyhounds are the most beautiful, most gentle, most understood dogs on the planet," she said.

“This leaked document shows that Tasracing is just going back to the bad old days where dogs will be killed because they have behavioural issues.

“Why do they have behavioural issues? Because of the bad treatment they’ve had.”

Racing Minister Madeleine Ogilvie said there had been a downward trend in euthanasia for greyhounds over time but she would seek more information on the plan.

“I’m an animal lover. I’m very concerned about all animal welfare issues and I’ll certainly be acting on it quickly. I haven’t see the document in question as yet,” she said.

Tasracing CEO Andrew Jenkins said the document in question was an early draft and not settled policy.

“The rare use of euthanasia is not a formal change of policy and is consistent with many other rehoming organisations across Australia,” he said.

“Tasracing is concerned that greyhounds that may not be suitable for rehoming because of behavioural and other reasons are held for extended periods in an environment intended to be temporary.”