Greyhounds dying for a buck

Greyhound dogs are literally dying for our entertainment and stronger measures need to be put in place to protect them, the Green Party said today.

TV's 60 Minutes last night highlighted how the racing industry is failing to look after greyhounds once the dogs no longer earn the industry money, said Green Party Animal Welfare spokesperson Mojo Mathers.

"I am concerned that far too many of these healthy dogs are being euthanised each year on retirement from racing at around 5 years of age instead of being re-homed.

"Legitimate questions are being asked about what is happening to the dogs who are injured, don't make the grade or are no longer fit for racing.

"But information I have received from the industry and advocates for the dogs reveal that a accurate records are not kept on what happens to greyhounds when they retire.

"We need to know what is happening to these dogs so that we can make sure that they are not being euthanised needlessly.

"The onus must be on the industry to step up and commit to ensuring better outcomes for our ex-racing dogs who are literally dying for our entertainment.

"The review of the Animal Welfare Act is the perfect chance to make a difference to these dogs and all other working animals in New Zealand.

"In our submission to the review of the Animal Welfare Act the Green Party recommended that all racing dogs must be registered with a council, with no exceptions.

"We also recommend that the outcomes of all dogs be recorded on the Greyhound Racing NZ register and that this is also cross referenced with council records," Ms Mathers said.