Unexplained deaths and flagrant disregard for the rules

RSPCA Tasmania is deeply troubled by information that has come to light this week regarding the welfare of racing greyhounds in our state.

Right to Information data obtained by the Tasmanian Greens reveals 24 deceased ex-racing greyhounds in the past year, with 19 of those deaths occurring since January 2026. Eighteen of the dogs were under six years of age. Of grave concern to RSPCA Tasmania is that nine of these deaths are listed as ‘unknown causes’ and a further five are of unestablished cause. These animals deserve better than to disappear from records without explanation.

Compounding this picture is a Stewards Decision handed down by the Tasracing Integrity Unit on 20 May 2026, in which greyhound trainer Anthony Bullock was found to have presented three dogs — Lacy Longstrider, Dewana Victory and My Girl Tenika — to race while containing the prohibited substances Codeine and Norcodeine. All three greyhounds have been disqualified from their December 2025 race results. The RTI data also reveals that seven greyhounds in Mr Bullock’s custody died, including two dogs apparently from separate snake bite incidents.

The pattern emerging from this data is unexplained deaths and flagrant disregard for the rules.

RSPCA Tasmania urges decision makers to carefully consider this information as the future of greyhounds in the racing industry is being decided. The data does not describe an industry with minor, manageable welfare issues. It describes one in which animals are regularly dying young, in unclear circumstances, with little accountability.

Every greyhound is a sentient animal capable of suffering. They deserve nothing less than our full protection.