GREYHOUND owners expressed their anger and frustration at a rally on Saturday at Sydney Park as figures show the death rate of dogs has continued unabated.

Passionate protesters held placards opposing the inevitable “wastage” of dogs and renewed calls for the industry to be shut down. The rally was organised to mark one year since the racing ban was overturned.

Figures obtained by Greens MP Mehreen Faruqi and seen by the Courier show 701 greyhounds were euthanased in the nine months between April 12 last year, when the ban was repealed, and December 31.

That’s a death rate of almost three greyhounds every day and the figure excludes dogs put down due to illness and old age.

media_camera Two gentle giants share a drink at the rally.

The number of greyhounds euthanased after they were deemed “not suitable for rehoming” was 331, a rate of 1.3 per day, which is higher than the 1.1 per day recorded in the 12 months prior before the backflip.

The death rate for those killed due to inury was 1.1, which was slightly higher than the previous 12 months.

media_camera A shocking 701 greyhounds were put down in less than nine months, a death rate of almost three every day.

Dr Faruqi told the rally the description of dogs being unsuitable for rehoming was just a “polite term for how the industry now disposes of dogs that no longer turn a profit”.

She said the repeal legislation passed parliament despite damning evidence of animal cruelty, drugging, and tens of thousands of deaths stemming from an industry which treats greyhounds as “disposable”.

“They are not commodities for the gambling and racing industry,” Dr Faruqi said.

“They are not just statistics; they are loving, living beings.

media_camera Greens MP Mehreen Faruqi MLC addressing the rally.

“But I come here not to commiserate or get angry for the sake of it. We are here today because despite the backflip and the wholesale betrayal of the major parties, the community of animal lovers has not given up.

“There has never been greater awareness of the cruelty in greyhound racing. As more and more people find out racing’s dirty secret of abused dogs that are tossed aside as wastage when they are injured or cease being profitable, they join the campaign to shut this industry down. The growing momentum is unstoppable.”

media_camera Euthanasia rates remain largely the same as they were before the backflip.

The high rate of deaths has continued despite the State Government spending $41 million of taxpayers money on “industry reforms”.

The Courier has been told the death figures are likely a huge underestimate of the real number killed as the Greyhound Racing NSW data relies on voluntary reports from trainers and owners.

The key problem is the sheer number of greyhounds being bred with 3052 greyhounds whelped in 2016-2017 compared to 1366 retired as a pet through the owner or through an adoption agency including GAP.

media_camera The new Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission will come into effect in July.

A spokesman for Racing Minister Paul Toole said the Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission is positioning itself to take over regulatory and welfare functions for greyhound racing from July.

“The Greyhound Industry Animal Welfare Committee considered a new draft code of practice at its March meeting and is working closely with the Commission to finalise the code,” he said.

“Greyhound Racing NSW is working with the University of Technology Sydney to design safer greyhound racing tracks and the NSW Government has committed $30 million to support upgrades to track safety and animal welfare infrastructure to ensure improved outcomes for greyhound welfare.”

ADOPT A HOUND

April is greyhound adoption month.

The industry’s adoption agency, GAP NSW, is holding an adoption day on Sunday, April 29 from 10am to 2pm at Wentworth Park.

See hounds available for adoption online.

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