Greyhound Racing In The Act

[BarbedWire]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-21/greyhound-racing-rspca-push-for-end-to-public-funds/6408918

"Greyhound racing: Canberra's RSPCA pushes for an end to public funding for local industry

By Ewan Gilbert

Updated about an hour ago

A greyhound chases a live possum with its jaws wide open

PHOTO: A live possum is used as bait as a part of a greyhound's race training regime in another state. (Supplied: Animals Australia)

RELATED STORY: Greyhound racing officials pushing ahead with welfare levyRELATED STORY: RSPCA plays down allegations of mass greyhound burial in the Hunter ValleyRELATED STORY: Piglets, possums and rabbits used as live bait in secret greyhound training sessions

MAP: Australia

The RSPCA has ramped up its call for an end to taxpayer-subsided greyhound racing in the ACT, in the wake of rumours of live-baiting in the Territory.

The RSPCA ACT said it received a number of tip-offs, following a Four Corners investigation in February that revealed the use of widespread live-baiting in the Australian greyhound industry.

The organisation's chief executive officer, Tammy Ven Denge, said they did not have enough evidence to prosecute anyone locally.

"However, to say it doesn't exist here would be very naive," Ms Ven Denge said.

Ms Ven Denge said quite aside from the live-baiting issue, she believed taxpayers would be disappointed to learn of the ACT Government's ongoing financial support for the industry.

"I've also had new information that the greyhound industry here in the ACT would not exist if the taxpayers weren't paying for it," she said.

YOUTUBE: GRAPHIC FOOTAGE: Greyhounds 'live baited' with piglets, possums during training

Last year the Territory Government provide funding to the ACT Greyhound Racing Club of $978,375.

"The Government's actually keeping this industry alive in Canberra, which makes no sense," Ms Ven Denge said.

"Why would the taxpayers want to support such an industry that's known for it's animal welfare concerns?"

Ms Ven Denge said she had also contacted the Government with concerns over the regulation of the sport.

"It's not even being regulated here in the ACT. It's Greyhound Racing New South Wales that's supposed to be regulating the ACT racing," she said.

"We're going to have to decide if NSW is capable of governing our industry.

"It's not being regulated by an independent body here, it's not being funded by itself...and it's an industry that's just full of all sorts of issues with animal welfare.

"Should we even have the industry here? Why can't we as the Nation's capital take a stand?"

Canberra Greyhound Racing ACT has been contacted for comment."

Is the RSPCA finally standing up for what it is supposed to?

[Salukifan]

Pretty soft target for the RSPCA here.

Where are the greyhound trainers with kennels and the private slipping/training tracks in the ACT???

*insert cricket sounds here*

About as meaningful as banning puppy farming in the ACT but certain death to more greyhounds. What a win for animals.

New RSPCA CEO has virtually no animal background and it shows. Its all about the PR mileage. They put their hand out for government funding pretty damn readily.

Edited April 21, 2015 by Haredown Whippets