EVIDENCE of live baiting in the Tasmanian greyhound industry appears to have been destroyed after footage of the illegal practice aired on national television, an inquiry has heard. Animal welfare activists and top vets have told a parliamentary committee investigating the greyhound industry it would be naive to think live baiting did not happen in Tasmania. RSPCA Tasmania’s chief inspector Paul McGinty said February reports of live baiting interstate sparked a flurry of allegations of the practice in Tasmania. Mr McGinty said the complaints triggered RSPCA inspections of nine properties across the state. Possum carcusses, skins and recently used bullrings were found at some properties. But Mr McGinty said there was not enough evidence to bring a case forward. ‘‘I honestly would imagine that it was very likely that this was occurring prior to that episode and that as a result of that episode there was a removal of potential evidence,’’ he said. Brightside Farm Sanctuary manager Emma Haswell said she had received about six separate allegations of live baiting within the past two years. ‘‘On many occasions they’ve told me that their father or their uncle, or their brother, used possums for live baiting,’’ Ms Haswell said. ‘‘[They’ve] cut the claws off the hands of possums so they couldn’t cause damage to the greyhounds, hung them from the washing lines and spun the washing line.’’ Ms Haswell said the alleged offenders’ names were never provided. But Greyhound Owners, Trainers, and Breeders Association Tasmanian president Graeme Barber said there was no proof live baiting occurred. ‘‘I’m willing to state on oath that I do not know of any greyhound trainer who is live baiting in Tasmania,’’ he said. ‘‘No one has come forward to me and told me that they’ve done it; I have not been to any facility and witnessed it personally.’’ Australian Veterinary Association state president Sally-Anne Richter said stewards needed much stronger investigative powers.
EVIDENCE of live baiting in the Tasmanian greyhound industry appears to have been destroyed after footage of the illegal practice aired on national television, an inquiry has heard.
Animal welfare activists and top vets have told a parliamentary committee investigating the greyhound industry it would be naive to think live baiting did not happen in Tasmania.
RSPCA Tasmania’s chief inspector Paul McGinty said February reports of live baiting interstate sparked a flurry of allegations of the practice in Tasmania.
Mr McGinty said the complaints triggered RSPCA inspections of nine properties across the state.
Possum carcusses, skins and recently used bullrings were found at some properties.
But Mr McGinty said there was not enough evidence to bring a case forward.
‘‘I honestly would imagine that it was very likely that this was occurring prior to that episode and that as a result of that episode there was a removal of potential evidence,’’ he said.
Brightside Farm Sanctuary manager Emma Haswell said she had received about six separate allegations of live baiting within the past two years.
‘‘On many occasions they’ve told me that their father or their uncle, or their brother, used possums for live baiting,’’ Ms Haswell said.
‘‘[They’ve] cut the claws off the hands of possums so they couldn’t cause damage to the greyhounds, hung them from the washing lines and spun the washing line.’’
Ms Haswell said the alleged offenders’ names were never provided.
But Greyhound Owners, Trainers, and Breeders Association Tasmanian president Graeme Barber said there was no proof live baiting occurred.
‘‘I’m willing to state on oath that I do not know of any greyhound trainer who is live baiting in Tasmania,’’ he said.
‘‘No one has come forward to me and told me that they’ve done it; I have not been to any facility and witnessed it personally.’’
Australian Veterinary Association state president Sally-Anne Richter said stewards needed much stronger investigative powers.
