Greyhound Cruelty Act Gets Punishment
A GREYHOUND trainer who left his dog to die in the back of his car has been sentenced to five months' weekend detention by a Sydney court.
Terry John Darragh, 37, also was ordered to perform 150 hours of community service and was fined $1000 at Balmain Local Court today.
Magistrate Ross Clugston told the court Darragh's $10,000 greyhound Go Bronco would have suffered "enormous pain" as he lay in the back of a station wagon for about 12 hours between January 12 and 13 this year.
Mr Clugston said the dog was howling in pain when a passerby discovered him.
The witness managed to force open the car door so he could pour water over the dog, but despite veterinary intervention, Go Bronco died as a result of heat exhaustion and dehydration three days later.
Darragh left the dog in the car after colliding with a bus on Glebe Point Road as he left the Wentworth Park racing track on the evening of January 12.
The trainer told police he "panicked" and fled the scene.
Darragh falsely reported his car stolen to police the following morning and did not come clean about what he had done for a further six days.
Mr Clugston today sentenced Darragh to five months periodic detention on a charge of animal cruelty and ordered him to complete 150 hours of community service for making the false report to police.
Darragh also was fined $1000 for negligent driving and for failing to stop and exchange details with the bus driver following the crash.
Darragh's solicitor Benjamin Goh told the court the Harness and Greyhound Racing Authority had launched an inquiry into Go Bronco's death and he foreshadowed that the trainer could face further penalties and sanctions.
Mr Goh said Darragh had raised the dog from a pup and was devastated by its death.
"He is obviously deeply mortified that he has allowed this dog to pass away in the way that it did," Mr Goh.
"He's clearly guilt ridden, remorseful and saddened."
Darragh launched an immediate appeal against the severity of his sentences for the animal cruelty and false representation charges.
He was granted bail, and will not serve any of his sentence prior to the appeal being finalised.
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07-16-2008, 04:16 PM
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