GRSA Issue 12 Charges After Damning Footage

TWELVE charges have been issued against two participants in the wake of the disturbing vision revealing the mistreatment of greyhounds in South Australia earlier this week.

On Friday, Greyhound Racing SA (GRSA) Stewards announced two participants, who can't be named for legal reasons, had been slapped multiple charges.

The charges stem from the ABC first airing footage of the alleged mistreatment of greyhounds at the property of Tony and Lisa Rasmussen in the southeast of Adelaide on Tuesday.

GRSA Stewards attended the property directly following the release of the drone footage and moved to interim-suspend two participants which led to a multitude of scratchings at Thursday night's Angle Park program.

In announcing the charges, GRSA chief executive Bodelle Francis said her organisation stands ready to "support the prosecuting authorities on any subsequent criminal investigations" moving forward.

"While our jurisdiction starts and ends with the rules of racing, we stand ready," Francis said.

"That these charges have been laid less than 48 hours after we first saw the vision is a reflection of how seriously we take the welfare of our animals and how disgusted we were by this vision. 

"I commend our Stewards for their swift and decisive action and for the thoroughness of their investigation to this point. The matter will now be referred to the independent Integrity Hearings Panel for determination." 

The matter will now go before the Integrity Hearings Panel, the independent body convened by GRSA which is responsible for hearing and investigating the charges as well as determining appropriate penalties if charges are proven. 

In SA, anyone found to be ill-treating a greyhound is guilty of a serious offence and would face a minimum 2 years' disqualification as well as a loss of registration for 10 years from the date of conviction. 

Following the release of the disturbing footage earlier this week, SA Premier Peter Malinauskas announced that he would launch an inquiry into the industry in the state.

CHARGES LAID

Person A 

* Ill treatment of a greyhound (five separate counts)
* Fail to exercise care and supervision of a greyhound to prevent pain or suffering
* Cause or permit on premises a condition dangerous to health, welfare or safety of a greyhound
* Conduct detrimental to the interest, welfare, image, control or promotion of greyhound racing 

Person B 

* Ill treatment of a greyhound
* Fail to exercise care and supervision of a greyhound to prevent pain or suffering
* Cause or permit on premises a condition dangerous to health, welfare or safety of a greyhound
* Conduct detrimental to the interest, welfare, image, control or promotion of greyhound racing 

* main Image GRSA CEO Bodelle Francis