Geelong has had its first greyhound racing death for the year, marking 17 Victorian fatalities according to the Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds (CPG).
Two-year-old Zipping Vienna died during Geelong Greyhound Racing Club’s (GGRC) July 8 meeting when she collided with another dog during race six’s first turn, resulting in a spinal fracture.
CPG Victorian director Joanne Lee said Zipping Vienna was the “third Victorian greyhound this year to die from a broken back while racing”.
“The race video shows her falling on her neck and tumbling over at more than 60km/h. This is appalling abuse of these beautiful, gentle dogs,” she said.
“The racing industry knows curved tracks are lethal but refuses to transfer racing to safer straight tracks because they put dollars before greyhound welfare.”
GGRC general manager Ray Bartolo said any greyhound injury or loss was “tragic and distressing” for the owners, trainers and staff.
“Geelong GRC provides assistance to owners and trainers if a greyhound is injured,” he said.
“The connections of a greyhound are often distressed, and the club has in the past assisted trainers in transporting greyhounds to a vet clinic.
“Greyhounds are very important to me as I have seven pet greyhounds that all raced and are now living happily in retirement.
“Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) also provides funding to the owner or trainer of any greyhound that suffers a serious injury during racing to ensure the greyhound has immediate access to emergency veterinary care.”
GRV said it was upset about Zipping Vienna’s death after an on-track veterinarian pronounced the dog dead.
“The serious injury or loss of any greyhound is both tragic and distressing for our industry and particularly for the owners, breeders and trainers,” a spokesperson said.
“As with any incident that leads to a fatality on track, the circumstances will be formally reviewed by the Greyhound Racing Integrity Unit.
“The incidence of greyhound racing fatalities in Victoria have more than halved over the past five years.”
According to CPG data, there have been 67 greyhound track deaths and 5865 injuries in Australia this year.
