In November last year, the Special Commission of Inquiry into the Greyhound Racing Industry in NSW heard Kempsey Shire Council could not account for missing drugs that could kill up to 26 dogs.

The commission of inquiry also heard that the shire council  could not account for inconsistent reporting of animals euthanased under its policy of putting down strays that could not be re-homed.

Kempsey council ranger and greyhound trainer Robert James Watson gave evidence to the commission of inq-uiry about destroying dogs at the council pound and at the Kempsey Greyhound Racing Track.

Mr Watson gave evidence at the commission of inquiry ‘unwillingly’, which means that even though he was required to answer all questions and answer them truthfully, his answers cannot be used against him in civil or criminal proceedings because the courts would hold the evidence as inadmissible.

During the inquiry, the commission heard that Mr Watson euthanased greyhounds for some trainers for free, signed Greyhound Racing NSW forms as a vet rather than a ranger, and put down greyhounds because they were unsuitable for racing, which included dogs that would not chase the lure, when they could have been saved and/or re-homed.

Surrendered

The commission of inquiry also heard that council paperwork could not account for 262 millilitres of the drug it held to euthanise animals, and that while approximately 30 greyhounds were surrendered to council bet-ween last February and September, reports suggested Mr Watson had actually euthanased 64 greyhounds in that period.

Mr Watson also said he euthanased a dog at the Kempsey Greyhound Racing Track at the req-uest of its owner, despite a vet recommending the dog should not be destroyed.

“The owner wanted the dog put down,” Mr Watson told the inquiry.

In response to the inquiry’s findings, the council told The Macleay Argus that action is being taken against Mr Watson.

“Appropriate action is being taken, however, council cannot comment on any specific actions as it involves individual staffing matters,” the council’s general manager, David Rawlings, said.

“On becoming aware of the issue, the council changed its practices to prevent the euthanasia of greyhounds by the council ranger and to introduce tighter controls over the usage of drugs and stock controls of those drugs. 

“We are waiting to see if further changes are recommended when the inquiry provides its report before undertaking a full review of the options available.”

The council said that, like many local authorities, the issue of a large numbers of dogs and cats needing to be euthanised is a problem  for it. 

“We need to reduce how many dogs and cats come into the pound that we cannot find a new home for,” Mr Rawlings said.

“This is about encouraging responsible pet ownership and control. Council would prefer not to have any companion animals destroyed.”

Mr Rawlings said  there needed to be a “whole of community focus” on ensuring that people treated their pets well and took responsibility for them.”