Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) stewards have handed three greyhound racing participants a collective ban of more than 14 years for serious animal welfare breaches.
The participants were charged under the Greyhounds Australasia Rules of Racing with a total of 26 offences, with penalties handed down recently.
Charges include a failure to provide veterinary treatment, failure to prevent pain and suffering, and endangering the health and welfare of a greyhound.
Participants were also charged with failure to comply with stewards’ directions and providing false and misleading evidence regarding animal welfare.
The participants were disqualified from the industry for a collective total of 14 years and three months, with an additional collective suspension of more than a year if re-licensed.
They also received monetary penalties and a reprimand.
All participants have been advised of their rights to appeal the penalties.
The charges came after a proactive investigation by QRIC stewards.
QRIC Chief Steward of Greyhounds, Mr Wade Hadley, said that QRIC takes all breaches of animal welfare standards in greyhound racing seriously.
“Welfare breaches are unacceptable as they not only have a serious impact on the health and wellbeing of individual animals, but they also have a negative impact on greyhound racing as a whole, diminish public confidence in our industry,” he said.
“The community expects us to crack down on any participant found to be neglecting their responsibility to ensure high animal welfare standards.
“We know many participants do the right thing, and it is the responsibility of every individual to work within the Rules of Racing to ensure our industry remains sustainable into the future.”
QRIC oversees industry compliance through a combination of proactive intelligence gathering, and reactive responses to information gathered through its anonymous online reporting portal, Report Something.
QRIC encourages racing industry participants and members of the community who have information about misconduct or animal welfare offences within the racing industry to report it.
If you would like to report something to QRIC, visit http://qric.qld.gov.au/report-something.