NEW South Wales Greens MP Dr Mehreen Faruqi said the ‘gruesome’ discovery of a mass grave of greyhounds at a Marsden Park property shows the industry has not changed despite recent scrutiny.
RSPCA NSW inspectors found nine dead greyhounds in a pit at a Marsden Park property owned by a licensed and registered greyhound trainer in July.
Inspectors also removed 12 emaciated greyhounds on two separate visits, and expect charges to be laid.
In a statement, Dr Faruqi said the discovery was proof the industry had not changed.
“The images are absolutely gruesome and show the consequences of an industry that treat animals as disposable commodities, to be discarded once they stop turning a profit,” she said via a prepared statement.
“The fact that such cruelty is happening in 2018 shows that nothing has changed.”
RSPCA NSW acting chief inspector Andrew Clachers told the Gazette he was dismayed to see this kind of behaviour still occurring given the scrutiny on the industry.
“With all that has happened over the last two years and with all the community spotlight on this industry, we are shocked that this kind of thing can still be happening,” he said.
Dr Faruqi said the discovery showed the second chance the greyhound industry had been given had not worked.
“This incident just shows that the second chance given to the industry was a huge mistake and all the promises they made to end the cruelty lack any kind of credibility,” she said.
“This is not just another bad apple. This is evidence of continued systemic cruelty and disregard for animal welfare.”
The Gazette contacted Member for Hawkesbury Dominic Perrottet for comment but a spokesperson said he was unavailable for comment because he was on leave.