Counsel-assisting the inquiry Stephen Rushton spoke of an industry in crisis and a controlling body that failed the wider community, greyhounds and the industry.
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WHILE an investigation into live baiting in Victoria continues, RSPCA Victoria chief executive Dr Liz Walker says she will be closely watching the NSW inquiry over the next three days to see what else is uncovered.
Current and former greyhound racing officials are expected to give evidence to the inquiry later in the week.
Mr Fear: “It was just the way to do it”, he said.
He doubted it was possible for the industry to adopt measures to maintain animal welfare standards.
“This industry is responsible for the unnecessary deaths of anywhere between 13,000 and 17,000 healthy greyhounds a year”, the internal report by Greyhounds Australasia said, the inquiry was told. “You were told that it was – this is a witness’s words, not mine – “either the bunnies or the dogs”, Rushton told the inquiry. A GREYHOUND training “bullring” where dogs were baited with live rabbits was so popular trainers would have to wait in line to set their dogs loose, a court has heard. “.
Earlier in his opening address, Mr Rushton said: “Thousands and thousands of healthy young greyhounds are destroyed for no other reason than that they did not cut the mustard”.
Under questioning from Mr Rushton this morning, Mr Fear agreed with claims that live baiting of greyhounds – using live rabbits and other small animals – was “rampant”. “Bait” animals are tied to a mechanical lure and hurled at speed around the track while greyhounds are released to pursue and catch them.
Rushton said over-breeding was the single biggest issue facing the sport.
Commissioner Michael McHugh is required to report to the Governor on the inquiry before March 31, 2016. “It has facilitated the concealment of matters which the industry would not want the public to know”.
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He said GRNSW admitted that animal welfare had historically been treated as a “hygiene issue”.
