Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson has delivered a dramatic message to the greyhound racing industry improve animal welfare and transparency or risk closure.

Robertson, who also holds the Minister for Racing portfolio, has put the industry on notice following a review of animal welfare and safety within the industry conducted, by Sir Bruce Robertson QC.

His report makes it clear the social licence to operate the sport of greyhound racing is under challenge, Grant Robertson said.

He concluded that if Greyhound Racing New Zealand (GRNZ) wants to secure its future it must demonstrate the decency of the industry, but it has made its job harder by unnecessarily obfuscating information and pushing back against those with an interest.

READ MORE:* Greyhound trainer fined $350 for hitting winning dog* Chle Swarbrick: Greyhound racing is cruel, and we must end it now* Greyhound Zipping Sarah wins race - while on methamphetamine* Review into greyhound racing and welfare launched by Racing Minister Grant Robertson* Dead dogs: 1447 greyhounds known to be euthanised in four years, report reveals

I want to be clear today the greyhound racing industry is on notice: either make the improvements needed or risk closure, he said.

ROBERT KITCHIN/Stuff

Grant Robertson has put the greyhound racing industry on notice.

Sir Bruce Robertson said in his report that GRNZs own data from, 2017 to August 1 2021, reveals 923 dogs have been euthanised with no reason given for 462 of the deaths.

The data gives medical euthanasia reasons, that did not occur at a racetrack, as 57 deaths due to aggression, 119 deaths because of illness and 285 deaths attributed to accident or injury.

No reason was given for the remaining 462 medical euthanasia deaths.

The report added the number of greyhounds euthanised has reduced significantly over the last four years, from an annual total of 348 down to 103 in the current year to date (7 months).

GRNZ has said it shares the Governments determination to ensure animal care is its top priority.

WARWICK SMITH/STUFF/Stuff

Sir Bruce Robertsons report accused the GRNZ of unnecessarily obfuscating information.

But in a statement released to Stuff, GRNZ strongly denies Grant Robertsons accusations of unnecessarily obfuscating information.

We must take issue with one aspect of the Ministers Statement we have provided an extensive and full submission and in no way have sought to obfuscate in any aspect of the review or any other information we have been asked to provide, a statement from GRNZ said.

WARWICK SMITH/STUFF

Greyhound owners get together to show how lovely the breed can be off the track. (Video first published June 2019)

The Robertson report said: GRNZ has made its job harder by unnecessarily obfuscating information and pushing back against those with an interest.

Arguably GRNZ has data to support its stances on the issues raised in this report but is seen as unwilling to share this, Sir Bruce Robertson said in his conclusion.

Following the reports findings, Grant Robertson has asked for three fundamental issues to be addressed, with a deadline of the end of next year.

They are data recording, transparency of all activities and animal welfare generally.

He has asked the newly formed Racing Integrity Board, which replaced the now-defunct Racing Integrity Unit, to identify a specific set of indicators over each of the three points that will be used to assess the industrys progress and report back to him before the end of 2022.

GRNZ supported that stance.

GRNZ wishes to provide a categorical assurance of our determination to work with the Minister, the RIB and the communities we serve to ensure high standards of animal care and access to verified and transparent data, its statement read.

Robyn Edie/Stuff

Greyhounds are loaded into the boxes for a race at the Ascot Park Raceway

GRNZ submitted a 28-page submission for Sir Bruce Robertsons report that remains publicly available on its website.

It has significant detail in its submission that, it claims, to show euthanasia statistics dropping significantly and rehoming numbers booming.

Grant Robertson announced the current review in April this year, claiming he was not satisfied with the industry's work on animal welfare following the 2017 Hansen Report, undertaken by former High Court judge Rodney Hansen QC.

The report revealed 1447 greyhounds had been euthanised between the 2013/14 and 2016/17 seasons but alarmingly, there were also 1271 dogs who are unaccounted for.

Sir Bruce Robertsons report said there has been an obvious effort by GRNZ to reduce the reliance on euthanasia when dealing with injured dogs, or dogs that are difficult to rehome since 2017.

But some submitters to his review had claimed there was an implicit no euthanasia policy to make the figures look better and that was negatively impacting the welfare of greyhounds.

His report suggested some submitters believed dogs were being kept alive despite catastrophic injuries or being permanently housed in kennels to avoid becoming an euthanasia statistic.

Sir Bruce Robertson said it is difficult to access accurate information regarding injuries, euthanasia, rehoming numbers, population projection, whelped puppies, and health statistics.

Publicly available statistics are often vague and limited to general euthanasia and injury statistics, his report said.

Until there is a change regarding that transparency and communication, there will be suspicion and distrust, and a rational robust and reliable assessment cannot be made.

GRNZs statement claims it is now matching the number of dogs rehomed with those bred annually and figures of that are available in its submission.

New Zealand animal rights organisation, SAFE, saw the review as pressure mounting for a ban on greyhound racing.

"Were not surprised by the findings. They confirm what weve been saying all along," SAFE spokesperson Will Appelbe said.

"This is a good first step, but anything other than a total ban on greyhound racing continues to put dogs at risk."

Original post:

'Greyhound racing industry is on notice': Grant Robertson says the sport risks closure without welfare changes - Stuff.co.nz