Tasmanian Greyhound racing trainer Anthony Bullock has been cleared of animal cruelty allegations following an Office of Racing Integrity (ORI) investigation prompted by drone footage released on social media.
The ORI report, released on Friday, found that animal welfare standards for dogs and horses on Bullock’s properties were “generally acceptable.”
RSPCA officers found no breaches of legislation in the footage or during inspections.
However, the investigation did identify some issues, including damp bedding in outdoor pens, dehydration in a four dogs, thirteen cases of gingivitis and “light flea infestations” in five dogs.
Bullock must address these concerns as advised by the regulatory veterinarian, which includes improving parasite control and addressing dental issues in one dog.
The video also shows an underweight horse, with the investigation finding it had been euthanased prior to the visit, and that Bullock had provided a version of events that “plausibly explained” its condition.
“Given there was no physical evidence of the horse at the time of the inspection, there was no recourse to provisions of the animal welfare act,” the investigation says.
The report said other images in the footage, including animal carcasses, bones a horse’s head, a dead wallaby on a ute tray and more animal carcasses at the rear of the Exeter property would be addressed in a separate steward’s report that will be released at a later date.
The ORI report found that the RSPCA believed Bullock did not breach animal welfare standards because of “deficiencies in the legislation” rather than due to him providing “appropriate and adequate care and conditions” to the dogs.
The report also highlighted that the public’s reaction to the footage indicated that the conditions on the property “do not meet community expectations” and suggested a review of animal welfare recommendations, streamlining the way greyhounds are regulated and implementing a “life-cycle traceability program” for all racing greyhounds.
Bullock’s license remains suspended until the outcome of the secondary investigation.
