A greyhound trainer in Australia has received a lifetime ban from the sport for allegedly killing four retired greyhounds by smashing their heads in with a rock.
Ian Anderson, who is a greyhound trainer from Kernot in rural Victoria, has been banned for life from the sport for allegedly killing four retired greyhounds by bashing their heads in with a rock. At first, Anderson claimed that he had rehomed the dogs with his brother in Queensland. However, in 2019, he changed his story and admitted to the killings.
He also revealed that the animals were buried in a pit located at his registered kenneling property in Kernot, which is situated approximately 75 miles southeast of Melbourne.
Before the Victoria Racing Tribunal conducted an inquiry on December 6, an autopsy was conducted which revealed that the four greyhounds named Pacific Reef, Pacific Dreamer, Dark Stealth, and Stealthy Flight had died due to being hit with a rock resulting in blunt force trauma.
Greyhounds used for racing usually retire between the ages of two and five, and can live for many more years.
Ian Anderson’s killing of four retired greyhounds, Pacific Reef, Pacific Dreamer, Dark Stealth, and Stealthy Flight, is particularly heinous because of the life left in these dogs.
Pacific Dreamer was Anderson’s most successful dog, winning 10 races out of 36 starts and earning him AU$11,120. Pacific Reef, on the other hand, did not win a single race, but had six third-place finishes, bringing in just AU$790 in career earnings. Dark Stealth does not seem to have ever raced, which is not uncommon for racing greyhounds who do not meet the required standards.
Anderson was not present at the tribunal and accused the panel of being “corrupt and rotten.” The panel condemned Anderson’s actions as “dreadful behavior” that could damage the industry’s reputation. The panel added that the incident was a “sickening saga” and handed down a lifetime ban to Anderson.
Ian Anderson recently denied any wrongdoing and stated to The Herald Sun that he had made arrangements for his brother to adopt the dogs. However, his brother had a heart attack and instructed Anderson to euthanize the dogs. Anderson still maintains that the dogs were shot instead of being bludgeoned to death.
He denies any wrongdoing and calls the accusations against him lies. He also criticizes the greyhound industry, claiming they bend the rules to suit themselves and make new laws as they go along.
Georgie Purcell, an MP from the Animal Justice Party, stated that the greyhound racing industry had become corrupt and had lost public support.
Read More: Casino.org