Source: SAFE For Animals
Top greyhound trainer John McInerney has escaped charges on a technicality following the Racing Integrity Board’s (RIB) investigation into 11 greyhounds taken to a Christchurch rehoming facility earlier this year.
The RIB found that one dog had an injury that should have been diagnosed earlier, and subsequently needed two partial toe amputations. But since the dog was deregistered from racing in late 2021, it was decided that McInerney was no longer subject to a charge under the greyhound racing health and welfare standards.
McInerney saw no charges for the remaining 10 dogs.
SAFE Head of Investigations Will Appelbe said the rules of racing should not shield trainers from the Animal Welfare Act.
“We’re extremely disappointed that this matter wasn’t referred to the SPCA,” said Appelbe.
“Whether or not a dog is a registered racing greyhound is neither here nor there. Not seeking treatment for an injured animal is a breach of the Act.”
Newshub revealed earlier this year that a number of McInerney’s dogs were handed over to a rehoming kennel showing severe signs of neglect and mistreatment. This included blindness, open wounds, bite marks from other dogs, injuries that were old and left untreated, lacerations, and severe worms.
“The greyhound racing industry has been told to make improvements, but that can’t happen without accountability which is sorely lacking. At this stage, the only option for the Government is to ban greyhound racing.”
SAFE is Aotearoa’s leading animal rights organisation.
We’re creating a future that ensures the rights of animals are respected. Our core work empowers society to make kinder choices for ourselves, animals and our planet.
– Following a review of the greyhound racing industry, Grant Robertson, the previous Racing Minister, stated there are three fundamental issues that still need to be addressed; data recording, transparency of all activities, and animal welfare generally. He tasked the Racing Integrity board to identify a specific set of indicators over each of these areas that will be used to assess the industry’s progress, reporting back to the Minister before the end of 2022.
– In August 2021, Labour MP Priyanca Radhakrishnan accepted The Greyhound Protection League of New Zealand’s 37,700 signature-strong petition, calling for a ban on greyhound racing in New Zealand. SAFE had been supporting the petition since November 2020.
– Greyhound racing is legal in only seven countries. A ban in the Australian Capital Territory came into force in April 2018, followed by a ban in Florida, USA, in November 2018. Since Florida is home to 11 of the USA’s 17 active dog tracks, this is a signal that greyhound racing will soon become a thing of the past in the United States.
