Cattle Prod
A worker prods some cattle as they walk up a ramp into a cargo ship for export, at Vila do Conde port in Barcarena, Para state, near the mouth of the Amazon river, October 9, 2013. Reuters//Paulo Santos

Since the ban on greyhound racing in New South Wales would take effect only in July 2017, for about 12 more months, authorities in the Australian state would need to be extra vigilant in monitoring the sport involving race dogs. Among the practices that NSW police need to look out for is the use of cattle prods to cause the greyhound to jump quicker out of the boxes and win the race.

The NSW police is investigating a trainer who allegedly used a cattle prod on a greyhound, reports Sydney Morning Herald. The prod could emit up to 6,000 volts to jolt the greyhound into action.

The incident happened in 2012 at the Newcastle track The Gardens. Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW), the industry regulator, was provided a video footage of the illegal practice. It gave NSW police a copy of the clip which showed the brand of cattle prod used was Parmak “Stock Master” design that has a warning not to use on other animals.

GRNSW interviewed witnesses in a private trial session to identify the trainer involved. Paul Newson, interim CEO of GRNSW, asked the state police to study the video with the aim of filing criminal charges against the people involved.

In an attempt to convince the state government not to push through with the ban, the industry submitted a rebuttal that NSW has to pay $4 billion compensation. The amount is based on the Alliance’s estimate of net contribution of $135 million a year to the state and an average participant life of 30 years, reports ABC.

The industry gives an even bigger $10 billion estimate of economic contribution of the greyhound racing industry to NSW.

VIDEO: NSW Bans Greyhound Racing

Source: NewsBeat Social

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