G'day Punter!

In this Discussion

Who's Online

0 Members & 25 Non Members

NZ to ban Greyhound Racing

Harness & Greyhounds

..

New Zealand has announced plans to ban
greyhound racing, citing an "unacceptably high" rate of injuries.

The sport has long faced criticism in the country, with
some breeders accused of mistreating or doping the animals.

The government plans to wind down the industry over the
next 20 months, to allow time for the rehoming of racing dogs and for people in
the industry to transition to other jobs.

Apart from New Zealand, commercial greyhound racing is
allowed in Australia, Ireland, the UK and the US.

ADVERTISEMENT

"Despite significant progress made by
the greyhound racing industry in recent years, the percentage of dogs being
injured remains persistently high and the time has come to make a call in the
best interest of the animals," Racing Minister Winston Peters said in a
statement on Tuesday.

"This is not a decision that is taken lightly but
is ultimately driven by protecting the welfare of racing dogs," he said.

The government on Tuesday introduced a bill to prevent
the unnecessary killing of racing dogs, which "will be passed under
urgency", said Peters, who is also New Zealand's deputy prime minister.

Further legislation will be tabled to enable the end to
greyhound racing, he said.

There have been three reviews of the greyhound racing
industry over the past decade, all recommending significant changes.

In 2021, 232 racing greyhounds died and 900 suffered
injuries, according to local media reports.

The industry was placed "on notice" by the
government in September that year, but the deaths and injuries continued.
Animal rights group Safe logged more than 2,500 injuries and nearly 30 deaths
in the two-and-a-half years that followed.

A key task now is to rehome the estimated 2,900 racing
greyhounds that remain in the country.

Animal rights groups which have long fought for the
industry to be closed cheered Tuesday's announcement, with Safe calling it a
"monumental win for animal rights".

New Zealand's oldest animal welfare charity SPCA said it
is "esctatic" at the move and called on other countries that allow
greyhound racing to follow suit.

However Greyhound Racing New Zealand, an industry
association comprising greyhound racing clubs across the country, said it is
"devastated" by the government's proposal.

"The greyhound racing community is left reeling
from the announcement, with many voicing concerns over the potential cultural
and economic void this decision will create," said the association's
chairman Sean Hannan.

Greyhound racing accounts for 8.5% of New Zealand's
NZ$1.3b ($760m; £595) racing industry, with just over 1,000 full-time jobs,
data showed.

"The government's decision to close the industry is
profoundly disappointing, as it overlooks the meaningful progress we have
achieved," said Hannan, who also urged the government to reconsider its
decision.

Comments

  • BushbookieBushbookie    300 posts
    Watch out Australia .
  • Vincent_vegaVincent_vega    584 posts
    Didnt the nsw govt say this about 3 years ago.
  • RodentRodent    7,263 posts
    Take it to an election FFS.
  • G-MacG-Mac    1,627 posts
    edited December 2024
    Didnt the nsw govt say this about 3 years ago.
    8 years ago. The decision was overturned in around 3 months. 
    This article is chuckle worthy. The tone is that the industry is dead. It's never been stronger since the ban was floated.
  • G-MacG-Mac    1,627 posts
    Rodent said:

    Take it to an election FFS.

    Baird effectively did that. Announced the ban in July 2016. Saw his approval rating plummet...Overturned it in October 2016. Resigned from politics in January 2017. He was big on the pearl-clutcher policies like "Lockout Laws" which got him votes in the right spots (middle class white people) but the greyhound ban was an overshoot (didn't take into account the amount of western Sydney and country people that love the game)
  • MarkovinaMarkovina    3,085 posts
    Its dissappointing for those involved and love Greyhound racing 

    They do have quite a few death and injuries but that seemed to improve and you would think in the present utterly nonsense world we now live in and the cost of living crisis that their Greyhound adoption scheme they would  be placing a huge number of dogs 

    To put that in context , about a touch over 20 years ago had a lovely 3 year  sojourn in Tassie on a couple of acres ( pity im still not their ) . Wanted a dog for company , went into the Risdon Vale Dogs Home , i was their 20 minutes tops , bought a beautiful Kelpie 2 yr old , like to take it for a quick walk mate , had dogs before , your on acres , here is the paperwork $80 and im out of their with my Kelpie Dog 

    Fast forward to 7 years ago , that Kelpie had just passed on , wanted a replacement ( i dont anymore , im right out of Dogs ) that Shenton Park joint , had adds there are dogs on death row blah blah - you have to help us out , went in their one Frid about mid morning , lovely white female kelpie placid as a baby lamb . i said i will buy it - $500 , you will not buy a dog for under $500 , and with all the add ons and bits and pieces you will need $650 . I had to do 2 interviews , i was their for 3 hours , they said , you cant have that dog , i put my $650 cash back in my pocket ( i was still dealing in cash not cards back then ) and left without a dog - this utter bullshiit they are on death row 

    The point im making in the ridiclous world and expensive world we live in , youd reckon they will be able to place stacks of those Greyhounds on their adoption scheme
  • BushbookieBushbookie    300 posts
    Dishlickers and Hurdlers in Oz better not hope that the Greens and Teals hold the balance of power in a Albo minority government next election . Dogs might be safe but they are out for blood to see the last of jumps racing in Oz . Dogs might have to rethink their sport and go into straight racing to reduce the carnage every race on the first turn . Greens and Teals out for blood in what might be their last chance in power for a decade .

    JimmyPop likes this post.

  • DamienWyerDamienWyer    7,785 posts
    The Greyhound adoption scheme has collapsed in Tasmania according to locals. Some 14 dogs are looking for homes in the Launceston area apparently. 
Sign In or Register to comment.