Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) has immediately stood down a further three registered participants for alleged live baiting offences under the NSW Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the Greyhound Racing Rules, as part of ongoing investigations with RSPCA NSW.
Registered trainers Majella Ferguson and David Sundstrom have both been stood down pending further investigations.
The action taken by GRNSW follows property inspections by the RSPCA NSW in connection with alleged live baiting at the Londonderry property of Zeke Kadir last week. Kadir was one of five participants stood down by GRNSW last Thursday.
GRNSW are confident of identifying a further seven people who are of interest in relation to footage obtained from the property between 5 December 2014 and 29 January 2015, with joint investigations ongoing.
RSPCA NSW CEO Steve Coleman said: “We are grateful for the assistance that GRNSW has provided to date as we continue the ongoing investigation into live baiting allegations. We have a zero tolerance to live baiting. If you are found guilty of such an offence, you can be fined up to $22,000 and/or 2 years in prison”
GRNSW Chief Executive Brent Hogan said the people stood down for alleged live baiting offences were a rogue element of the sport.
“People convicted of live baiting are not welcome in our sport. They also face hefty fines and deserve to serve jail time. Their actions are not reflective of the vast majority of the 3000 registered trainers who would not contemplate engaging in such a barbaric act,” Mr Hogan said.
“We encourage any member of the public who has information about live baiting occurring to contact either the GRNSW compliance team or RSPCA NSW immediately.”
In a separate investigation, licensed trainer Bruce Carr has been stood down with immediate effect following another property inspection conducted by GRNSW and the RSPCA NSW last Friday.
GRNSW stood down Carr having located four live rabbits on his Londonderry property.
