| ABC News Almost a quarter of retired greyhounds surrendered to the Queensland racing watchdog's adoption program have been euthanased in the past year, because their behaviour made them too unsafe to be rehomed. In its annual report to Parliament, the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission [QRIC] said its staff have euthanased 101 retired greyhounds since taking over the state's greyhound adoption program a year ago. QRIC director of animal welfare Martin Lenz admitted the number was higher than he would like. "It's something that we're looking to reduce over time," he said. Another 318 dogs surrendered to the adoption program in the past financial year were rehomed. QRIC said most of the greyhounds put down by its staff showed unmanageably high prey drive as well as health issues and extreme fear and anxiousness. Mr Lenz said there was no choice but to euthanase unsafe dogs. "If a greyhound recognises everything that's smaller than it and furry as prey, that makes it quite difficult to place it in situation where there may be other family pets," he said.
Greyhounds stare through fence
PHOTO The QRIC could enact a pre-screening program to monitor dog temperament. ABC
"When a dog leaves the program, it is an expectation in the community that it is safe." The greyhound adoption centre at Churchable in the Lockyer Valley has operated for several years, but the QRIC took it over last year in the wake of the live-baiting scandal exposed by the ABC's Four Corners program in 2015. The number of dogs given to the centre increased by 300 per cent after Four Corners ran footage of live-baiting tactics used by trainers. QRIC's annual report showed it spent $1.1 million on animal welfare in the year to June 2017, mostly associated with the adoption program. Mr Lenz said in response to the high number of dogs euthanased in its first year, QRIC was trying to educate trainers and breeders about how to better prepare their greyhounds to cope with life as a pet. He said the commission was considering a pre-screening program that could monitor a dog's temperament early in its racing career. "Then the focus is back on the trainer to make sure that the dogs are brought up in a way that maximises their success on the race track ... but also when they finish that racing career they are in a state that is suitable for us to place them safely," Mr Lenz said. The ABC contacted the Queensland Greyhound Breeders Owner and Trainers Association for comment. QGBOTA Response To QRIC Interview with ABC As president of the QGBOTA, I would like to say how disappointed I am with QRIC after reading Martin Lenz comments to the ABC. As you know, I declined to give the ABC a comment as I knew they would twist it against the industry. Mr. Lenz states, If a greyhound recognizes everything thats smaller than it & furry as prey, and then goes on to say that he is trying to educate trainers better etc etc.
The implication here is that the nasty trainers are using unscrupulous practises that are causing this. QRIC has not charged one single person with live baiting. If they believe there are still people out there doing it, then catch them and charge them. If they cant find anyone, then stop with the innuendos and snide remarks. Making statements like we cant rule out the possibility. doesnt help anyone. You should be able to rule it out, thats why you have a $26million dollar budget, body worn cameras, police powers and police men. If you cant rule it out, QUIT. Let someone else do the job. Whilst I respect Martin Lenz qualifications as a vet, I have no confidence in his experience with the Greyhound as a breed. This is patently obvious from his statements.
He talks about greyhounds showing extreme fear and anxiousness, again implying this is the trainers fault. Greyhounds are naturally timid, some more so than others. When you take them out of their usual surroundings, routines, and people they recognise and place them in a strange environment, naturally some will show signs of fear, nervousness or shyness. Like people, some are outgoing whilst others take time to come out of their shells, (some take a long time), it has nothing to do with trainers, its the breed. Greyhounds have been bred for over a thousand years as sight hounds. They chase movement. It is in their DNA. To suggest that they need to be put down for being what they are is an admission of failure by the QRIC run GAP program. A member recently sent two dogs to the program. These dogs had been in her house, living with a foxy cross and playing with her two year old grand-daughter. When she enquired after them she was told one wouldnt make it because it wasnt pet friendly. This is a dog that was house trained, walks up stairs, plays with a small dog and kids, but they put her down. Owners and trainers last year retired 539 dogs as pets and found homes through third party arrangements for a further 389 dogs. They did this without the $1 million reportedly spent by QRIC, and they did it without the guidance of so called experts. If these had been placed in the GAP, on their 25% Kill rate, a further 232 dogs would not be in homes today. The greyhound industry has done everything that was asked of it; Prize money has been ripped from us to fund these welfare initiatives. The GAP is given proper funding for the first time, AND THEY FAILED.
And what is their answer, make it harder to get a dog into the GAP program, therefore reducing the number of dogs GAP puts down. Put all costs back to the owners (even though Ms. Grace is on record stating the money taken from industry was to ensure ALL dogs would be vaccinated, desexed, wormed and re-homed).
All the initiatives and proposals coming from the GAP and QRIC are designed to do one thing: Make QRIC look good at any cost. As president of the QGBOTA, I will go on record as saying, I have no confidence in Martin Lenz expertise to advise trainers on anything to do with greyhounds. I have no confidence in QRIC running the GAP program in such a way as to ensure all dogs are given a chance. The next time I am asked to give an opinion, I will make sure I do not leave it up to others to give our side. I was well aware of the ABC agenda, I didnt expect QRIC to throw us under the bus as well. How nave of me. I will know better next time. Stephen Lennon
President QGBOTA IMO, there was a golden opportunity missed, then again, never too late, is it.
Stephen, love your passion.
You can always reply in writing, stating EXACTLY what you want and EXACTLY the points you believe have led the industry and GAP to where they are today and how to fix them.
I'm sure you can be creative without stepping over the line.
You are in a position to do so. There are now TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS that have been siphoned from the Greyhound industry over the last 4 years from appearance monies and 2 major reductions in prize money, all in the name of WELFARE. MILLIONS and MILLIONS and MILLIONS. The public and antis are now aware that these funds are not being used for what they were apparently intended to be. 1. So, where are they?
2. Why hasn't the GAP programme been extended?
3. Why has the adoption success rate fallen from 98% DOWN to 75%?
4. Why isn't there a system in place for Green Collar and Blue Collar(not small animal friendly)?
5. Why is GAP now trying to divert responsibility(Vet entry exam) and making it less attractive for owners to place dogs in GAP?
6. Why are there re-active decisions being made and not pro-active?
7. If there is only 1 million being spent...why, when there is MORE being taken from the industry each year?
8. Why haven't GAP liased with other non-anti racing adoption groups to cater for high prey dogs, nervous dogs that might need more TIME or can find adopters who are responsible enough to take on dogs like this? Example of TIME.(patience)
I have a dog who has physically ripped me open 6 TIMES when he first came into the kennel.
He is an EXTREMELY nervy dog.
Four months later...he's my best mate.
Funny that...
TIME. QRIC director of animal welfare Martin Lenz admitted the number was higher than he would like. "It's something that we're looking to reduce over time," he said. By making entry into GAP harder and less responsibility?
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