Gambling company Tabcorp, which profits from the horse and dog racing industries, likes to claim it’s all for animal welfare — indeed, that it’s a leader.
“We have zero tolerance for animal cruelty and we’ve got to take a leadership position in the industry,” chair Paula Dwyer said last year, in response to yet more evidence of horse torture and slaughter.
In fact, the company goes further in its corporate governance statement. “As a participant in the thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing industries through the offering of wagering products, Tabcorp expects the highest standards of animal welfare and integrity and has zero tolerance to animal cruelty, in racing and in society in general. Tabcorp is committed to working in partnership with racing industries to ensure the welfare of animals is prioritised.”
If Tabcorp told its investors it’s working in partnership with racing industries, then it must surely be true — the company wouldn’t mislead investors.
So welfare group Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds (CPG) asked Tabcorp for details of what, exactly, Tabcorp does to ensure the welfare of animals is prioritised, and how it works in partnership with industry. At first, Tabcorp only offered the same pabulum as in its public statements. But when pressed, a spokesperson cited several “examples”:
- it “receives updates” and “asks about” animal welfare from racing governing bodies
- its Sky Racing broadcasts “promotes animal welfare and initiatives such as greyhound adoption” and it has sponsored greyhound adoption. “Our social media channels have also been used to promote animal welfare.”
- the company “has promoted the greyhound adoption program among its employees”
- and the company says it is “currently in discussions with greyhound racing bodies to support new initiatives that promote animal welfare”.
So, in summary, asking the industries that systematically abuse horses and dogs if the animals are being treated OK, some ads and tweets about greyhound adoption and having some “discussions”. Doesn’t sound like much of a “partnership” to prioritise animal welfare, and it evidently isn’t having much impact on the ground, given the NSW racing industry is still slaughtering racehorses.
As CPG has pointed out, if Tabcorp wanted to actually do what it tells investors it’s doing, it could easily do it by demanding six-dog races (as per the UK) which significantly reduce the death and injury rate for dogs compared to eight-dog races. But that, of course, would reduce Tabcorp’s revenue.
It could even do things that didn’t cost it money, like demand genuine whole-of-life tracking of dogs so that the racing industry is prevented from selling the dogs to third parties to be butchered.
Meantime this year’s death toll from greyhound racing stands at 167 dogs, with nearly 1100 sustaining major injuries.
We no longer have bear baiting and cockfighting much to civilised for that.So why (money of course)can we live with this cruelty and slaughter of horses and dogs?
It would be interesting to do some research of the horse and dog ‘punters’ to see how much they know about the fates of the animals they follow, and how much they care. To find out how much denial and rationalization play a role in their justification of engaging in what most people see as a frequently and unnecessarily cruel industry. Work out the why, and the what-to-do-about it might follow.
Eating animals for food is far worse. Have you ever seen the life of battery hen or cow raised for milk or meat? Their lives are miserable with a horrific end – just to feed the hypocrits who shout outrage at horse and dog racing.
In contrast, dogs and horses are treated better than humans.
Those of us who are outraged by horse and dog racing are also outraged by factory farming. Battery hens and cows are not feeding us. Generally speaking, animal activists cover the spectrum of animal exploitation and are vegan So do stop spreading bullshit around, and go learn something about the racing industry, including what “wastage” means.
“Dogs and horses are treated better than humans.”
So, are humans also slaughtered and dumped into secret pits when they’re no longer needed? Are humans ground up for pet food if they aren’t performing? Are humans just slaughtered if they suffer an injury.
Oh, and I tend to eat kangaroo meat (game meat) rather than cow meat and I don’t eat chickens and only eat free range eggs. It’s not difficult to care about the animals you eat… give them a happy life and a quick death. All any of us could ask for really.
Spot on Bernard.
Unfortunately examples aplenty across industry and society more broadly. Agricultural companies and multi-national conglomerates will frequently publicise their “dedication” to animal welfare, while simultaneously providing nothing but the strongest opposition to even the smallest proposed animal welfare improvements or reforms.
In lieu of the odd four corners exposé or the raising of a green curtain at the Melbourne Cup, the lives of the animals we race, abuse, slaugher, eat and/or turn into pet food are largely out of sight and out of mind – exactly how these companies want it. $$$
Greyhounds in Victoria are routinely killed – they are taken to the Vet, blood drained for donation to other dogs and then killed
One gets the impression that in both games the interests of the animal are wholly secondary