A former employee of Greyhound Racing SA's adoption program is speaking out over what she says are poor welfare standards and bullying in the industry. She's provided hundreds of photos that appear to show the mistreatment of greyhounds and questioned whether the state government's inquiry into the industry will do enough to protect whistle blowers.
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00:00 Until late last year, Kirsty Bear worked for Greyhound Racing SA's Greyhound Adoption Program.
00:08 She says she took the job because she loves the dogs.
00:11 When I saw the role come up in Adelaide, I thought yes, I want to progress more, do more
00:16 for them and so that's why I came down to Adelaide to do that.
00:20 Ms Bear says the adoption program does good work, but she's speaking out now because of
00:25 the state of dogs that sometimes came into it.
00:29 Photos, many of which she took herself, have been tabled in Parliament, showing images
00:34 of emaciated dogs with rotten teeth, eye disease and sores.
00:38 A lot of terrible teeth, really, really underweight dogs, dogs that had injuries that weren't being treated.
00:46 Ms Bear says the adoption program helps deliver the racing industry its social licence.
00:52 There's a lot that the industry is covering over by saying look at how wonderful it is
00:56 that we rehome all these dogs and there's a lot that's not being said in that.
01:01 In a statement to the ABC, Greyhound Racing SA says its welfare officers made more than
01:06 600 kennel inspections last year.
01:09 It says it encourages anyone with allegations of mistreatment to come forward so it can
01:14 be investigated.
01:16 The state government launched an inquiry into the greyhound racing industry in July following
01:21 reports of abuse on a trainer's property and a recent live baiting case.
01:27 Greens MP Tammy Franks says she used Parliament to table the pictures showing evidence of
01:32 greyhound mistreatment because whistleblowers are concerned they won't be afforded protections
01:37 by the inquiry.
01:38 It's not only the animal advocates that have come to me asking for whistleblower protection,
01:43 it is also trainers.
01:45 The state government says greyhound racing still has a role to play, but it needs to
01:49 be done in a way that meets community standards.
01:52 The independent inquiry is expected to report by the end of November.
01:56 [BLANK_AUDIO]