Welfare of greyhounds questioned
Greyhound welfare advocates have called on the government to step in and investigate the welfare of greyhounds in the racing industry.
Green Party MP Mojo Mathers accepted a petition from Greyhound Protection League of New Zealand president Aaron Cross on Wednesday at Parliament.
Mr Cross said that according to industry records there ought to be 17,000 greyhounds in New Zealand, but council dog registration only show 3000.
‘‘The rest are either being euthenased en-masse or just not being registered,’’ he said.
The Greyhound Protection League launched an online petition in December asking MPs to back the group’s call for an independent inquiry and reached its goal of 1500 signatures, representing the number of greyhounds introduced to the racing industry annually.
Only a little over 10 per cent of that number is re-homed annually, he said.
Accepting the petition, Ms Mathers said hundreds, if not more dogs were being euthenased early for entertainment and to support a gambling business.
An independent investigation was needed, she said.
She said she would convey the petition to a select committee for consideration.
Mr Cross, of Houghton Bay, has adopted two greyhounds from the industry, seven-year-old Pax from Rangiora and three- year- old Sally, from Invercargill.