Australian Greyhound Racers Disciplined for Cruel Use of Live Baits
In Victoria, Australia, the authorities in charge of regulating greyhound racing have put a stop to a seasoned trainer following a thorough inspection of his kennels. During the inspection, they found evidence of live-lure training, which is prohibited due to its inhumane nature.
Leslie Kenyon and an unidentified individual were swiftly suspended after the search of their facility near Melbourne, carried out by Greyhound Racing Victoria's (GRV) integrity unit. The discovery has sparked renewed demands for the state to put an end to the sport.
Live-lure training, also known as "blooding," involves dogs chasing and ultimately killing small animals like rabbits, possums, or even piglets. Many trainers argue that young dogs have a better chance of running fast if trained with live lures because it heightens their natural instinct to chase.
Carey Thiel, the executive director of greyhound charity Grey2K USA Worldwide, strongly condemns this practice, describing it as "a particularly cruel process where small animals are shredded."
Thiel went on to say, "In recent years, live baiting has been exposed in the greyhound racing industry in countries such as the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland. This is just one of the sport's dirty little secrets."
GRV's chief executive, Stuart Laing, confirmed in a statement that the pair under scrutiny could face criminal charges for their alleged offenses. He also said that the industry has no tolerance for such atrocities, as they undermine the integrity of the sport and inflict damage on the greyhound racing industry's reputation.
Recent Scandals
This is just the latest in a series of widespread animal cruelty cases drawing attention to Australian greyhound racing.
Back in July, a trainer in South Australia was charged with a dozen offenses after videos surfaced of him mistreating dogs, including puppies, by kicking, punching, and pulling them by their legs.
In January, a cruel trainer in Victoria was issued a life-long ban from the sport after allegations that he killed four retired greyhounds by smashing their heads with a rock.
In 2015, a television current affairs program shook the domestic greyhound racing industry with a scathing report displaying graphic images of small animals tied to mechanical lures, which were then pursued and brutalized by dogs.
"Systemic Cruelty"
Following this report, an official investigation in New South Wales concluded that such mistreatment was widespread and systemic in the sector.
The investigation found that somewhere between 48,000 and 68,000 dogs had been killed in New South Wales in the past decade and hadn't met the sport's performance standards. The report also claimed that around 20% of trainers employed the live-lure training method.
After the findings, New South Wales decided to ban greyhound racing, only to reverse the decision several months later.
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