Activists and punters faced off at yesterday’s final greyhound racing meet in Auckland, as racing enters its final week before a nation-wide ban takes effect
Manukau Stadium in Auckland held its final race on Sunday, before the formal ban on greyhound racing comes into place on Saturday, August 1.
Video filmed by an animal activist outside the stadium showed a group of about five greyhound racing supporters standing at the fence of the stadium, yelling abuse at a group of animal welfare protesters.
In the clip, one man shouts at the activists, telling them “on Monday, we are going to blow all our dogs away”, sparking concern with the group of activists.
Some of the supporters behind the fence can be seen holding drinks and swearing at the protesters.
Greyhound Racing NZ chief executive Edward Rennell told Checkpoint the comments needed to be kept in context, and that he did not believe any dogs were going to be hurt.
“These are people that have responded to extreme provocation and made a comment that clearly they shouldn’t have made.
“It was, I understand, made to get under the skin of the activists.”
Rennell said the man who made the comment was not a licensed owner, so there were no dogs in his care.
He said the group of people in the video had been subject to “abuse” from activists over the past five years, and after yesterday’s final meeting reacted in a way they should not have.
“It was an exceedingly dumb comment, but it was done under provocation to get under skin of the people that were there.
“We wish it didn’t happen, and we can rest assured there will be no dog shot.”
While Rennell said he believed the man has no dogs in his care, he said regardless of whether he had access to any dogs or not, under the law greyhounds can not be euthanised unless they are signed off by a registered veterinarian.
“If people do do that, they will be breaking the law and will be dealt with by the police, so I think people can relax that won’t be happening.”
Ophelia the greyhound is seeking a new home after the end of racing in NZ.
Supplied / The Greyhound Rehoming Project
Rennell said the reaction was likely due to the fact that people are having their “livelihoods ripped out” as greyhound racing comes to an end.
“Clearly there is a high degree of emotion involved at the moment.”
Police said they have received a complaint from the activists and they were assessing the video containing the threat.
As of 1 August, owners and trainers of greyhounds will get a daily payment of $36 to look after the dogs until they are rehomed.
With upwards of 1000 dogs, that process is estimated to take at least two years.
It will be overseen by the Greyhound Racing Transition Agency and funded by the TAB.
Rennell told Checkpoint he did not believe the $36 was enough, given trainers would have to find other income once the ban came in place.
“I think it needs to be taken into account. they have to feed the dog out of that, but they also have to pay wages, they have to pay tax, and many of them don’t have any other income.”
He said dogs of owners and trainers who did not want to hold on to them would be transferred to other trainers or fast-tracked into the adoption programme, although he said the number will be small.
In terms of re-employment, Rennell said some trainers were looking to relocate to Australia to find employment within other racing codes.
There are five more greyhound races before the ban comes into effect on Saturday.