South Australian Greyhound Trainer Banned for Animal Welfare Breaches

A South Australian greyhound trainer has been disqualified for eight years and three months for three animal welfare-related breaches of Greyhounds Australasia rules.

Greyhound Racing SA (GRSA) said Vernon Anderson, 67, was found guilty of failing to ensure veterinary attention when necessary for Beasley, an "acutely unwell" dog that died.

He was also found guilty of failing to provide proper and sufficient water to five other dogs and five unnamed pups on a day predicted to reach 34 degrees Celsius.

Mr Anderson, from Kingston on Murray in SA's Riverland, had also pleaded guilty to housing two greyhounds, Cyclone Darcy and Hurricane Earl, in a trailer which was "not compliant with the minimum standards or size required".

Each of the breaches occurred in January.

GRSA's integrity hearings panel disqualified Mr Anderson for two years and three months for the count he pleaded guilty to, and three years for each of the two counts for which he was found guilty.

Breaches 'jeopardise' public trust

In its published decision, the panel noted Mr Anderson had submitted that he had been a "respected greyhound racing participant for the past 48 years" and had "never been the subject of disciplinary proceedings of any type".

The panel also noted Mr Anderson's submission "fails to recognise any wrongdoing whatsoever on his part".

"Each of the offences represent a separate and distinct incursion into matters striking at the core of the welfare of greyhounds," the decision noted.

The decision also found that each breach "directly compromises the core values of greyhound racing" in SA.

"The industry depends on a social licence that demands strict adherence to the highest standards of welfare, integrity, and governance.

"By failing to meet these critical benchmarks, Mr Anderson has jeopardised the public trust and community approval that rely on the industry fulfilling its primary responsibility: upholding the welfare of greyhounds."

Greyhound Racing SA general manager for integrity and welfare Andrew Baker said GRSA adopted a "zero-tolerance policy regarding animal welfare breaches".

"There is no place in our industry for any actions that compromise the welfare of animals,"

Mr Baker said.

"We understand that the vast majority of industry participants love and care for their greyhounds and abide by the rules, but this needs to be 100 per cent, and the IHP [integrity hearings panel] findings demonstrate that any animal welfare breaches will not be tolerated."