Wastage

Last updated 21 October 2020

‘Wastage’ is the industry term used to describe dogs that have been bred for racing but have been deemed unsuitable to race, whether they were never registered to race, injured, do not perform well enough to be retained by their owner, or become too old. Before the concerted rehoming efforts by advocates, ‘wastage’ dogs would be euthanised. 

A mass grave of greyhounds discovered on a registered trainers property in Sydney. Source: ABC

Wastage remains innately linked to the greyhound racing industry given the finite number of homes available, and the number of dogs bred to keep race numbers and associated betting practices viable (Michael McHugh AC QC. Special Commission of Inquiry into the Greyhound Racing Industry in New South Wales. 2016). Estimations of the number of greyhounds killed each year due to wastage in Australia is between 13,000-17,000 dogs, with a staggering 40% not even making it to the race track (Michael McHugh AC QC. Special Commission of Inquiry into the Greyhound Racing Industry in New South Wales. 2016). Moreover, inadequate and inappropriate ‘monitoring’ by industry facilitates dogs ‘disappearing’ from being traced altogether, leaving them facing an unknown fate.