Industry records obtained by Guardian Australia show dogs euthanised rather than adopted because of ‘temperament’

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Retiring racing greyhounds were deemed unsuitable for adoption and put down because they chased lizards, hated cats, or were “too timid”, “too noisy” or “anxious and fearful”.

Internal Greyhound Racing New South Wales records obtained by Guardian Australia reveal some greyhound owners continue to rely on vague rationales for euthanising dogs when they retire from the track.

Among the notifications of retirement submitted to the regulator between April 2017 and May 2018, some owners simply say rehoming is not suitable because of the dog’s “temperament”, without describing their behaviour in any detail.

One document, dated August 2017, describes the rationale for euthanasia as: “Can not walk the dog waiting on hip replacement, could not give away. Dog does not like cats and other animals.”

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Another from May last year said the dog was put down because: “Non-chaser and not suitable for rehoming as hates cats and wouldn’t make GAP [greyhounds as pets program].”

The documents, obtained under freedom of information laws, are being released as the Greens express concern about a weakening of NSW’s greyhound rehoming policy.

Previously, greyhound owners were required to seek the consent of the regulator to have an animal euthanased.

Now, greyhound owners must only show they have made “genuine and reasonable attempts” to rehome a healthy greyhound.

The change has been ushered in by the new Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission, a body that was key to the NSW government’s efforts to reform the industry.

Euthanasia rules of the same type were criticised by the 2016 special commission of inquiry, set up by the NSW government. The inquiry said the rule would achieve little without a huge expansion of rehoming spaces.

“At best, and perhaps ironically, the effect of the proposed rule will simply lead to a substantial increase in the number of greyhounds seeking new homes,” the inquiry found. “That would be a positive development if there were a substantial number of additional rehoming spaces available. That is not currently the case and it is unlikely to be the case in the future.”

Greens MLC Mehreen Faruqi said the new integrity commission was meant to clean up the industry.

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“Instead our worst fears are being realised as they loosen the already weak safeguards,” she said.

“The regulator doesn’t have any interest in saving the lives of these dogs. By moving away from a permission-based system to a notification system, there is no opportunity for them to even intervene. By the time they’ll find out the dog is dead already.”

Faruqi said the retirement notices showed the industry continued to allow euthanisations for dogs that had stopped “turning a profit”.

“These hundreds of euthanasia forms confirmed what we all knew to be true. Dogs continue to get put down by the hundreds for the most spurious of reasons.

“Being too timid or barking at another dog shouldn’t be a death sentence and the industry should take responsibility for the rehabilitation of greyhounds they have used and abused or made money from.”

A spokeswoman for the Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission said there had been no weakening of the euthanasia policy.

“GWIC’s position is to increase owner responsibility and accountability for whole of life decisions,” she said in a statement.

“The policy increases the extent of efforts required on owners to genuinely make rehoming attempts.”

“GWIC has changed the veterinary certification requirements to enable data to be gathered on dogs being euthanised to clearly identify euthanasia’s being undertaken for behavioural issues; medical issues; or owner request.”

The spokeswoman said the commission would be monitoring owners with a high rate of unsuccessful rehoming and would intervene if necessary.

The NSW government announced on Tuesday it was contributing $500, 000 in taxpayer funds towards the world’s richest greyhound race, the inaugural Million Dollar Chase at Wentworth Park in Sydney.