The long running Drake Inquiry into Greyhound Racing NSW is due to report back today.

The optimist in me thinks the findings will be that the industry did not learn from its dice with death back in 2016. That it will be found incapable of changing and becoming safe for the animals involved. That its death in NSW (and Australia) begins today.

The realist in me knows that the findings will be that there a few bad actors, and that the industry needs to change and needs to be given one last chance.

#GreyhoundRacing #Greyhounds #AnimalAbuse #PetsNotBets #NSWPol #GRNSW #DrakeInquiry #NSW

Late on Friday, the Greyhound Welfare & Integrity Commision (GWIC) quietly published a media release stating that Ben Talbot had been stood down from his role within the Industry Participants Advisory Council1.

The move came after a raid on the property of Talbot’s brother Adrian led to allegations that Adrian was operating an illegal horse knackery where the corpses of up to 500 horses were discovered on site2.

Adrian Talbot denies the claims, stating he had legally slaughtered a small number of horses for the purpose of feeding his ten dogs.

Ben Talbot was previously suspended by Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) for a period of two years for the unauthorised killing of three and a half year old Greyhound Better Cruise after she was suspended for failing to pursue the lure3. The suspension was later reduced to just four months on appeal, in part due to proven ignorance of the fact that the killing was not lawful4.

Ben Talbot was appointed to GWIC’s Industry Participants Advisory Council on 13 February 20235. The Industry Advisory Council’s role is to provide input from trainer’s into GWIC’s work and processes.

Sources

https://letthemrunfree.com/2024/05/26/ben-talbot-suspended-from-greyhound-welfare-and-integrity-commision-role/

#GRNSW #GWIC

The Guardian: ‘They couldn’t care less’: fears for dogs’ welfare as Greyhound Racing NSW axes one of two adoption centres

#Greyhound #Greyhounds #GreyhoundsAsPets #GAPNSW #GreyhoundRacingNSW #GRNSW #GAPWyee #Animals #AnimalWelfare #NSW #NSWPol #AusPol

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/may/25/they-couldnt-care-less-fears-for-dogs-welfare-as-greyhound-racing-nsw-axes-one-of-two-adoption-centres

I wasn't sure if I was going to write this, but here goes.

Yesterday, Greyhound Racing NSW locked their staff out of the Greyhounds as Pets Wyee facility and made the entire facility redundant. The staff there, while they worked for a disgusting organisation, demonstrated real care for each and every single dog that came through their doors, and my wife and I are lucky to have adopted our beautiful Waffle and Tim Tam from them.

GRNSW yesterday released a statement where CEO Robert Macauley spoke about the collapsing wagering post-COVID. The statement also mentioned that all rehoming and welfare activities are "fully funded".

Fully funded I guess after quietly making around 60 redundancies across the Wyee facility and GAP head office.

The Wyee shelter is to be outsourced to a private company which will now handle GRNSW's export business sending discarded Hounds to the USA in the hopes of a better life. There are more strict criteria on what dogs can be sent to the US - off the top of my head I believe they need to be under five years old and have no medical conditions.

After the Baird-era attempt to ban Greyhound Racing in NSW, the industry talked big about wanting to clean up its act. It seems when the going gets tough, they've opted to act in bad faith towards dedicated, hard working staff, and reduce their capability as an organisation to deal with the abandoned, abused dogs which are the EXPECTATION, NOT THE EXCEPTION.

Greyhound Racing needs to end in NSW. The industry has demonstrated that it can't be trusted to the right thing by their animals.

Ray Hadley also did a bit on this today. While I wouldn't normally recommend a sane person to listen to him, he's fired up about what's happened at GAP.

#Greyhound #Greyhounds #GreyhoundsAsPets #GAPNSW #GreyhoundRacingNSW #GRNSW #GAPWyee #RayHadley #Animals #AnimalWelfare #NSW #NSWPol #AusPol

Picks of our two Hounds for attention.