Murray Bridge greyhound trainers banned over cruelty to animals
Trainers Tony and Lisa Rasmussen have been banned from participating in the greyhound racing industry. Photo: Greyhound Racing SA/Facebook.
Two Murray Bridge greyhound trainers have been banned from the sport after being found guilty of cruelty to the animals in their care.
Tony Rasmussen was given a lifetime ban and $220,000 fine – the heftiest penalty ever handed down in South Australia – by Greyhound Racing SA on Monday.
His wife Lisa was banned for 15 years and fined $20,000.
An integrity hearings panel found them both guilty of a failure to prevent pain and suffering, causing or permitting dangerous conditions, and conduct detrimental to the industry.
The panel also found Mr Rasmussen guilty of eight charges of ill treatment of a greyhound.
The pair will not be allowed to own or train a registered greyhound for the duration of the ban, or to associate with anyone connected to the racing industry anywhere in Australia and New Zealand – not for racing-related purposes, anyway.
GRSA CEO Brenton Scott welcomed the panel’s decision.
“We have zero tolerance for the mistreatment of greyhounds, and we are pleased with an outcome that very clearly underlines this position,” he said.
“Our focus remains on creating a strong industry that is well positioned for the future and we continue to progress against the recommendations handed down as part of the state government’s independent inquiry.”
GRSA had laid the charges against the Rasmussens last July, after ABC Adelaide aired video footage which appeared to show dogs being mistreated at their property.
The state government launched a wide-ranging inquiry into the greyhound racing industry a month later.
That inquiry would ultimately recommend that the industry be shut down unless it could demonstrate its willingness to improve its standards by the end of 2025.
Former police officer and Victorian Racing Integrity Commissioner Sal Perna will supervise that process after being appointed as South Australia’s greyhound industry reform inspector last month.
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