Brent Hogan, the former head of Greyhound Racing NSW isproviding evidence at the special commission of Inquiry in the next two days concerning the high rates of Greyhound injuries and poor welfare standards in the industry. The Inquiry already heard that the Officials played down the injuries in order to avoid negative publicity and no deaths were reported.
Mr Hogan stepped down as Greyhound’s Racing NSW CEO last year due to the wake of Four Corners on live baiting.
An email was sent to Commissioner MicaherMcHugh from the chief steward of GRNSW which urged the officials to downplay the injuries of the dogs in post-race events to avoid negativity. The mail suggested that a broken leg can be referred to as an injured leg.
According to the suggested policy, if a dog was put down after a race, it is only the injury that will be reported and not the death itself. As such, this policy misled the public and therefore policy change was necessary.
Mr Hogan told the commission that the change of policy was intended only to make it easier for steward’s report and make the language consistent.
According to the commissioner, it appears to him that the policy was made deliberately to excite the interest of animal welfare groups.
“ Do you agree that this policy mislead the public?” the commissioner asked.
Mr Hogan replied, “Looking back to it, Yes.”
The commission has previously been told that up to 17,000 dogs were not allowed to race because they were not good enough. In fact, every month, over 600 greyhounds are reported to be injured in Australia, suffering from different and serious bone fractures as well as musculoskeletal injuries.
“Nonetheless, it is clear that the controlling bodies have failed to keep and also publish comprehensive injury reports,” Stephen Rushton, the assisting counsel to the inquiry said.
This article is published in: Greyhounds Betting, News
Tags: greyhounds, greyhounds Australia, live baiting, NSW
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