RSPCA Tasmania Newsletter
July/Aug 2021

Greyhound racing- past its use by date?

Did you know that, on average, around 5 greyhounds are killed at official races around the country every week?

So far this year, 96 greyhounds have been put down or died after a race; 1,012 have been seriously injured; and 5,932 have been hurt on the track.

Six greyhounds have been killed on Tasmanian race tracks this year: 3 at Devonport; 2 at Hobart; and 1 at Launceston. These deaths all occurred after the dogs broke their legs in seven or eight-dog races.  Since January, another 231 dogs have been injured in Tasmanian races, 29 seriously.

The latest greyhound to die was Rojo Nugget. This beautiful boy was only 18 months old - barely old enough to 'officially' race - and he’d had 4 starts.  On the first turn in a race at Devonport last month, he  collided with other dogs, flipped through the air, and crashed to the ground. He was put down on the track.

Australia is one of only eight countries in the world with a commercial greyhound racing industry — and we are by far the biggest. However, internationally, it is an industry in decline. One of the last hold-outs, Macau, was shut down in 2018, while the greyhound racing capital of the US, Florida, finally banned the whole thing from the start of this year. This leaves only three US states where greyhound racing is legal.

State governments provide millions of dollars to the greyhound racing industry — actively encouraging growth and participation through breeding incentives, appearance fees, infrastructure and race-day attraction grants, prize money, and even subsidies for injured dogs.

In Tasmania alone, more than $30 million a year is funnelled from taxpayers to support what is supposedly a sport.

Racing supporters claim the industry provides employment for hundreds of people, but it is more than reasonable to question why it cannot stand on its own feet. Taxpayers have every right to be concerned at the apparent lack of any plan to make the industry sustainable. They also have the right to expect improved animal welfare outcomes and increasing standards of industry accountability and transparency in return for these levels of public funding. Yet evidence would seem to indicate that poor attitudes to animal welfare remain entrenched in the racing industry.

It is clear that there are significant and entrenched animal welfare problems inherent in the greyhound racing industry. These include problems with over-supply, injuries, physical overexertion, inadequate housing, lack of socialisation and environmental enrichment, training, illegal live baiting, administration of banned or unregistered substances, export and the fate of unwanted greyhounds.

Our world is changing – and community attitudes to acceptable behaviours are also changing. Activities involving human-animal relationships, especially when animals are used for entertainment, will have to move with these changes.

One of the key changes should be cessation of public funding of the racing industry past the expiry of the TOTE agreement in 2029.

The Minister is listening to your voices and promises to take necessary steps to stop the sale of pronged collars

Government Media Release 15th July 2021

The Tasmanian Government takes animal welfare extremely seriously, which is why we significantly strengthened the Animal Welfare Act in 2015 and increased penalties across the board and improved the powers of Animal Welfare Officers.

The Government does not support the use of pronged collars and sought to ban them in 2015 based on advice from the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (AWAC).

Unfortunately the move to ban was opposed in the Upper House and subsequently withdrawn with the then Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, Vanessa Goodwin stating; ``The Government doesn't want this amendment to be lost and then not have the opportunity to pursue this banning of pronged collars down the track’’.

In November last year Guy Barnett, the Minister for Primary Industries and Water, wrote to the Chair of the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee asking that the Committee consider improvements to the Animal Welfare Act to better protect animals, particularly dogs.

The Government is expecting advice from AWAC and DPIPWE in the near future and Tasmanians can be assured that this Government will continue to take action based on the advice of experts to maintain high animal welfare standards.

The RSPCA has a representative on AWAC and we expect the pending advice to address the use of pronged collars.

July was National Desex Month

With collaboration from our vet partners and from funders (like you), RSPCA Tasmania has developed desexing programs for low income earners. 

In a few weeks 30 people have signed their dogs to our Mary Kibble Dog Desexing Program, saving many unwanted litters next season. 

Furthermore the RSPCA Centrepay Cat Desex Program has, so far helped people pay for 70 desex surgeries.

Using Australian information, cats average 2 litters per year, 4 kittens per litter = 8 kittens per year in total. In one year we have 24 kittens born because Kitty wasn't desexed, times that by 70 and see how successful this program is...

A huge thank you to all our vet partners. You are the best!

For a list of participating vets please follow the link

Please donate dog & cat food  to help support our community 

We have always taken emergency boarders but are now partnering with another organisation to assist those fleeing family violence, by taking care of their animals.

But we need your help.

We will take care of the animals but need donations of food.

If you would like to make a difference in your community, please donate food to our Launceston Adoption & Retail Centre (3/207 Invermay Road), our Hobart Adoption & Retail Centre (55-57 Albert Road Moonah), or our Devonport Animal Care Centre.

Call 6709 8100 for more information.

Bake for an amazing paws!

Grab your apron and preheat those ovens – Cupcake Day is returning on Monday 16th August.

Each year, more than 124,000 animals turn to the RSPCA looking for help. This year, you and your utensils have the power to serve up love, care and forever homes to each and every one.

Whether you’re whipping up doughnuts, lamingtons, brownies or traditional cupcakes, the funds you raise at your Cupcake Day event help rescue, rehabilitate and rehome animals in need all over the country. Invite your workmates, schoolmates and regular mates along for a sweet-tastic, slobber-filled gathering.

With a pinch of community and a cup of good conversation, your Cupcake Day event has the potential to bake real change.