WA Parliamentary Question on Notice regarding greyhound euthanasia practices and veterinary protocols within the racing industry. The response provides some data from 2013 onwards but cites data limitations prior to that year.

AnsweredQoN 5364Legislative Assembly
Asked
6 April 2016
Portfolio
Racing and Gaming

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the Greyhound Racing industry in WA and ask: (a) what is the usual on-track veterinary protocol for a suspected bone fracture; (b) are X-rays used to determine the severity of the injury before resorting to euthanasia; and (c) since 2005, how many Greyhounds were euthanised annually for the following reasons: (i) not suitable for re-homing or Greyhound Adoption Plan (GAP); (ii) unable to find suitable home; (iii) due to injury/ongoing injuries; and (iv) no racing ability/poor performer?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
10 May 2016
Responded by
Minister representing the Minister for Racing and Gaming
Response time
34 days
Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) advises:
(a) The greyhound is examined by an on track veterinary surgeon.
(b) Radiographic imaging would be the decision of the on track veterinary surgeon.
(c) RWWA advises in relation to (b) to (d) that prior to 2013, the data requested was contained in a legacy database within a structure that has not been retained. Further, in relation to some of the queries raised as indicated, the data was not structured to be captured in a way which allows for it to directly respond to the query. This would require several weeks of work and the diversion of resources from other active projects and duties. Further, the reliability of some of this data would be questionable as the system was not at that time designed to capture the information that is now being requested, and would require manual manipulation or interpretation to provide details with an acceptable level of confidence.
I am therefore not prepared to divert valuable staff resources away from other duties to retrieve this data.
(i) 2013-14: 47, 2014-15: 110.
(ii) This information is not collected.
(iii) 2013-14: 260, 2014-15: 261.
(iv) 2013-14: 76, 2014-15: 106.

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