"Before the Bad Men Hurt Me": After Investigation, GWIC Says Threatened Racing Greyhound Is Safe
A NSW greyhound trainer allowed their racing dog to be advertised online for rehoming in May alongside threats of the dog being put "to sleep forever with something they call a bullet"
New South Wales’ racing greyhound welfare authority has confirmed it investigated a trainer earlier this year regarding threats to harm an ex-racing greyhound in Grafton that were posted online in May.
The NSW Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission (GWIC), the body responsible for oversight of the state’s dog racing industry, states that it has twice looked into the welfare and whereabouts of the greyhound and confirmed his safety in the two months since the threats were posted publicly on Facebook.
In a statement, a spokesperson for GWIC affirmed that the “greyhound in question was healthy and well”, and “remains as a pet with his original owner.”
A rehoming advertisement for the dog was posted in a Facebook group named “Clarence Valley Lost and Found” on May 19, along with a threat to shoot the dog if he couldn’t be rehomed quickly. According to the post, the dog had won many races within the dog racing industry.
“Desperately seeking adoption,” the advertisement reads. “My name is Keith and I am 6 years old. I’m a retired in tact [sic] black male. I have won many races in my time at the track.”
“Unfortunately my owner can no longer keep me as my yard is way too small and I don’t get the exercise or attention I need on a daily basis.”
“Unfortunately some ppl [sic] want to take me away and put me to sleep forever with something they call a bullet. I haven’t done anything wrong but the men are always angry at me…I’m really excited for someone to rescue me as my time is running out before the bad men hurt me."
“Thank you for hearing my plea.”
Contacted for comment in late May, the trainer responsible for the dog, who identified themselves only as “Tabitha”, was asked if they needed help finding a home for Keith. They said they didn’t. "No, it's all done now,” they said.
When asked for clarification as to what that meant‚ and if that meant he had been killed, Tabitha said "I would never kill him, he's my baby boy."
Asked if he had found a home, Tabitha said that he had, but according to an investigation into the matter conducted by GWIC, the greyhound has remained with his original owner.
"There were some things in there that shouldn't have been said,” Tabitha responded, when asked why the rehoming advertisement included threats to kill the greyhound. “I got a friend to do the post."
At that point in the conversation, a man in the background yelled into the phone. "I was gonna shoot the c*nt because he kept f*cking attacking children!" he yelled.
According to the NSW Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission, of the 1405 greyhounds who retired from racing the 2019/20 financial year, 881 were given away by their owners or trainers.
Greyhound Clubs Australia, the lobby representing Australian dog racing clubs, has recently published advertising material claiming that in the “greyhound racing family, the most important, pampered, and respected members are the dogs themselves,” and that “greyhounds are loved as pets and family first, and race dogs second.”
Of those racing dogs that are surrendered to the NSW industry’s Greyhounds As Pets program, a third have regularly failed the industry rehoming test, heightening their risk of euthanasia. In the past, greyhounds in NSW have been euthanised rather than adopted out for vague reasons, including having a “timid” nature, being “noisy”, or “hating cats”.
Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission (GWIC) policy requires owners to make “genuine and reasonable attempts” to re-home a healthy greyhound, unless euthanasia is required for emergency or medical reasons. Previously, owners were required to seek consent from Greyhound Racing NSW before seeking to euthanise a racing dog.
As with other dog breeds, giveaway racing greyhounds sometimes encounter cruelty at the hands of their new owners, as occurred in a 2018 cruelty case in New South Wales brought against Shane Polson, who took three giveaway racing greyhounds from trainer Tamara Ball and proceeded to perpetrate acts of animal cruelty, including starving one of the greyhounds to death.
On July 15, the greyhound’s owner, “Tabitha”, again confirmed that the greyhound mentioned in the advertisement was safe. “I’ve had so many calls about this,” they said. “The greyhound is safe.”
Contacted for comment on July 14, a spokesperson for GWIC confirmed they had investigated the incident. “The Greyhound Welfare & Integrity Commission (GWIC) is aware of this greyhound adoption advertisement circulating in the ‘Clarence Valley Lost & Found’ Facebook group,” the spokesperson wrote.
“This post was reported to GWIC in May 2021 and an investigation into the welfare and whereabouts of the greyhound commenced.”
“The investigation found that the advertisement was posted without the permission or knowledge of the greyhound owner and that the greyhound in question was healthy and well in the care of his original owner until a suitable home could be found.”
“Despite being removed from Facebook, the post is now circulating again. As a result, GWIC has made further enquiries and has confirmed that the greyhound remains as a pet with his original owner. GWIC has ensured the owner is aware of their obligations under the Greyhound Rehoming Policy, this includes notifying GWIC of the new owner details should the greyhound be rehomed.”
“GWIC is not proposing further action at this time.”
“It is not an offence to advertise greyhounds for sale or rehoming online, however all advertisements must comply with the Companion Animals Act 1998 which requires the microchip or breeder registration number to be included in the ad.”
“GWIC monitors a number of platforms for suspicious or concerning behaviour, and always welcomes information from both the industry and the public. Anyone with information is encouraged to report their concerns online or by calling 13 49 42.”