Michael Rose, a nearly two-year-old greyhound, died at Sale Greyhound Track on Sunday, December 18, after sustaining numerous elbow fractures following a fall at the track’s first turn.
The young greyhound is the second to die on the Sale Greyhound Track this year, bringing the state death toll to 45.
Danica Spolly, who died at the Sale track on January 4, was the first greyhound killed on Australian tracks in 2022, after she clipped the heels of another dog approaching the first turn resulting in a left wrist fracture and a left radius/ulna fracture.
With 12 dogs dying on Gippsland tracks this year, animal rights organisations claim that Michael Rose’s death, which raised the Victorian death toll over that of 2021, has made Gippsland one of Australia’s deadliest regions for greyhound racing.
“The second greyhound death in Gippsland in three days shows there are real safety concerns about the three tracks in the region,” said Kylie Field, Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds (CPG) director.
“Gippsland is now one of the deadliest regions for dog racing in the country; a dozen deaths and 860 injuries are appalling statistics and show that animal welfare is a low priority for the racing industry.
“With 45 on-track deaths this year, Victoria has now exceeded the 2021 death toll of 44 dogs.”
Field said the real greyhound death toll will be higher.
“An analysis of Greyhound Racing Victoria data appears to show that more than 20 dogs, injured in their races, were later euthanased away from the tracks,” she said.
“GRV is yet to respond to our request for confirmation.”
Greyhound Racing Victoria told the Gippsland Times, “greyhounds that incur injuries are always assessed immediately by a qualified GRV appointed vet to determine the most appropriate course of action”.
“Often that can be a referral to another vet off track for further assessment if surgery and rehabilitation is the most appropriate course of action, enabling surgery to occur immediately if that is in the best interests for the welfare of the greyhound,” manager of public affairs Andrew Holmes said.
“The Greyhound Welfare Integrity Unit supports this process to ensure every greyhound injured receives the optimum care it can. GRV provides funding support through its Greyhound Recovery Initiative to cover the cost of surgery and rehabilitation designed to alleviate any costs to connections.”
Greyhound welfare advocates claimed that the most recent fatality illustrates how the Victorian dog racing industry was failing greyhounds.
“The racing industry can deny reality and say that everything is fine, but the bodies of at least 45 dogs have revealed the reality of dog racing,” Field said.
“It has to be phased out.”
Greyhound Racing Victoria responded to the death of Michael Rose at the Sale track, guaranteeing track safety.
“There was a racing incident at Sale that caused a major injury to Michael Rose, resulting in the on-track vet determining euthanasia the most appropriate course of action,” Holmes said.
“Post-race analysis of the track determined the incident was a not a track safety issue.
“Unrelated to the incident, the Sale track is about to close in January for a period to undergo planned renovations for old-for-new replacement of some of its ageing infrastructure, reinforcing the commitment of GRV, and its clubs, in providing the best environments it can for greyhounds, participants and patrons.”
Forty-five greyhounds have died on Victorian tracks in 2022, and more than 3000 dogs have been injured. One hundred and sixty dogs have died nationwide.
