Safe for Animals said in a release it was calling on Greyhound Racing New Zealand to begin winding down races immediately, following the deaths of two dogs at Ascot Park Raceway in Invercargill on Wednesday.
Greyhound Racing New Zealand’s stewards’ reports said both dogs suffered catastrophic spinal injuries that led to their deaths, the statement said.
Homebush Jelly was found dead at the lure after suffering a suspected fractured neck and severed spinal cord in race 5. Queen of Shadows sustained a suspected spinal fracture at the lure and was euthanased due to the severity of her injuries after race 13.
Safe campaign manager Emma Brodie said the deaths were shocking, but tragically predictable.
"Two dogs dying from broken spines on the same day is horrifying," she said.
"This tragedy underscores why the Bill to ban greyhound racing is so vital. The government has taken a historic step by introducing it, but dogs are still dying while the industry clings on in desperation.
"We’re calling on Greyhound Racing New Zealand to accept the inevitable and begin winding down now."
The sport is set to be banned on July 31 next year.
Safe has written to Racing Minister Winston Peters to inform him of the latest deaths.
"Every dog who dies between now and then is one too many."
Greyhound Racing New Zealand chief executive Ed Rennell said clearly the industry was disappointed with the deaths and its thoughts were with the connections of the dogs.
"But to put perspective around the issue, it’s our fifth death since the start of the racing season on August 1, and we’ve had over 8300 starters," he said.
"Our rate is about 0.6 per thousand, so I know the Safe didn’t put out a press release on that or the 89 days when we haven’t had an incident."
He said its race day euthanasia figures were half that of the thoroughbred industry.
Mr Rennell said the welfare of animals would be much worse if the industry was forced to close before July 31 next year.
"We’re talking about people who are losing their livelihoods and their investments. If they’ve got no income coming into racing, how do they care for their dogs? The government needs to, has yet to consider or address the question of how it’s going to support and compensate our people."
The organisation was trying to have a sit-down meeting with Mr Peters but this had yet to occur.
It was looking forward to the select committee process.
"The injury rates this season is a lot lower — we rate them on injuries where they incur a stand-down of more than 22 days, so that’s the lowest it’s ever been.
"The euthanasia prior to yesterday, that was looking very good as well, but two in a day didn’t help."
Greyhound Racing New Zealand had rehomed 697 dogs last year,a record, and second only to the SPCA. He believed it would take up to two and a-half years after the closure next year for all dogs to be successfully rehomed.
