RSPCA Prepared To Press Animal Cruelty Charges In Racing Victoria Cobalt Scandal

The RSPCA "is prepared to press charges of animal cruelty in relation to Victoria's cobalt doping scandal," according to Patrick Bartley of THE AGE. This comes after the animal welfare lobby "helped expose appalling images of animal cruelty in the greyhound racing, which were broadcast on the ABC's Four Corners program." The national office of the RSPCA in Canberra released the following statement, "The RSPCA takes the reports of the administration of cobalt and formaldehyde to horses extremely seriously and we have made our concerns known to Racing Australia." The RSPCA "is working closely with Racing Victoria and will seek to obtain the transcripts of the Racing and Disciplinary Board hearings." They are looking for Racing Victoria "to involve other relevant authorities or agencies such as Victoria Police, should information emerge that requires criminal investigation" (THE AGE, 7/19).