CCTV footage will be used as part of an investigation into an alleged animal welfare incident at a Launceston vet clinic involving Tasmania's most decorated greyhound trainer, Exeter's Anthony Bullock.
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The Office of Racing Integrity and RSPCA are investigating allegations Mr Bullock brought one of his greyhounds to the vet after its leg was broken at trials in Mowbray last Tuesday, only to allegedly refuse to pay after-hours fees for "consultation and euthanasia".
A witness alleged Mr Bullock dragged the injured greyhound - 18-month-old Tah Bernard - out of the clinic while the dog was "whimpering in pain", Greens leader Cassy O'Connor told Parliament on Tuesday. There was also an allegation that he "threw" the greyhound into a trailer.
Tah Bernard was euthanased the next day at the clinic, having allegedly being in pain throughout the night.
The dog's body has been exhumed as part of the investigation.
During the hearing for Tasracing as a government business enterprise, Ms O'Connor questioned Racing Minister Jane Howlett and Tasracing chief executive officer Paul Eriksson about the investigation, including why Mr Bullock had not been suspended.
He had greyhounds competing in Launceston on Monday night, and in Hobart and Devonport this weekend.
Ms O'Connor said the trainer should be suspended while the investigation is carried out, and asked whether it had not occurred due to Mr Bullock's standing as the largest greyhound trainer in the state, and the impact it would have if he withdrew his dogs from races.
"Given that there's a whole lot of codes - whether it be sport, in business, sometimes in government - if a person is under investigation, they're suspended," she said.
"Are you prepared to have a look at the rules of racing to give Office of Racing Integrity or Tasracing greater capacity to suspend a person who has done potentially the wrong thing during an investigation?
"This relates specifically to a most serious accusations of cruelty towards animals."
There was no indication of how long the investigation would last, but authorities gave an assurance that the report would be released.
Mr Eriksson said there were a range of reasons why a trainer is not suspended during an animal welfare investigation.
"There is no scope in the rules for that suspension whilst there's an investigation," he said.
"Secondly, there is an animal welfare matter. If the individual was suspended then he would need to reassign his dogs which would create a significant problem.
"The director of racing is able to put a suspension in place, but will evaluate that on the basis - as I said before - in terms of animal welfare, capacity to manage the dogs, and the nature of the incident.
"The director does have some discretion there, but in this instance, I think he has looked at the initial part of the investigation and deemed that at this point, it's not appropriate to suspend Mr Bullock."
Mr Bullock declined to comment.
Minister says trainers are 'animal lovers'
Ms Howlett said she had faith that the majority of those involved in the Tasmanian racing industry adhered to animal welfare matters.
"Greyhound industry participants are animal lovers and have a genuine concern for the welfare of their greyhounds," she said.
"The government, Tasracing and the Office of Racing Integrity and industry participants are continually working to improve greyhound welfare in Tasmania.
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"Fewer greyhound litters are being bred, fewer dogs are being euthanased, and more dogs are being rehomed than ever before."
She provided figures showing that 678 greyhounds were euthanased in 2015/16, which had dropped to 40 in 2020/21.
In 2018/19, 18 greyhounds were euthanised on track. That decreased to 13 in 2019/20 - albeit when the COVID shutdown occurred - then seven in 2020/21 and four so far in 2021/22, with an additional greyhound dying of an undetermined medical condition in the catchment pen.
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