SA greyhound trainer Jack Trengove faces integrity tribunal hearing on animal welfare charges
A well-known South Australian greyhound trainer has been charged with 26 animal welfare rules breaches by the sport's governing body, after an investigation stemming from photos taken inside his kennel.
The images, provided to the ABC, were captured covertly allegedly inside a Two Wells property belonging to trainer Jack Trengove and sent to Greyhound Racing SA (GRSA).
Taken between October 2023 and May 2024, the photos appear to show at least three dogs with scarring injuries, feeding bowls covered in faeces, and an unknown liquid pooled on the floor.
GRSA confirmed it had received the photos and, in February, said it was investigating their origin.
On Thursday, GRSA announced it had laid charges against Mr Trengove and suspended him from training greyhounds, pending the outcome of an Integrity Hearings Panel tribunal decision.
He has not been charged with any criminal offences.
The ABC obtained the original notice of inquiry issued to Mr Trengove in October last year, detailing several alleged off-track incidents relating to the treatment of racing dogs it said it was investigating.
Officials said they were investigating whether Mr Trengove "threatened to cause detriment, namely euthanasia, to a greyhound" named Archer One "who was injured … and about to receive treatment".
Other matters under investigation included alleged "rough handling of a dog whilst it was inside a trailer" last September, and an unspecified event involving another dog in a racetrack car park, which incurred a $200 fine.
The 26 charges include seven counts of "inappropriate treatment", six counts each of "failing to provide adequate veterinary attention" and "failing to take reasonable care to prevent suffering", along with "ill treatment of a greyhound", maintaining "dangerous kennel conditions" and "hazardous construction of kennels".
It is not known whether any of the charges relate to the matters depicted in the images or detailed in the notice of inquiry.
Mr Trengove faces a minimum penalty of five years' disqualification from racing and a fine of up to $20,000 if the charges are upheld.
Mr Trengove has denied any wrongdoing and said he was unable to comment on lawyers' advice, but earlier said his dogs were in the care of another person when the photos were taken and he was not responsible for the conditions pictured.
Born in Broken Hill, Mr Trengove's father and cousin are also involved in the sport, and in 2021, he was described by GRSA as having a "strong future ahead of him" in a since-deleted online blog.
He was pictured most recently on May 25 at the Broken Hill Racecourse, after a first-place finish, and was named the club's 2021 trainer of the year.
GRSA chief executive Brenton Scott said charges were the result of "complex and comprehensive investigation".
"Breaches of the rules, particularly those relating to greyhound welfare, are treated with the utmost seriousness," Mr Scott said.
"At all times throughout the investigation, the welfare of the dogs in question has been absolutely paramount and that remains our central priority."
Mr Scott said he would not make further comment while the matter was before the tribunal.
South Australian Racing Minister Emily Bourke said the government acknowledged animal welfare in greyhound racing as a priority.
"These images are confronting and demonstrate why our government has put the greyhound racing industry on notice to reform," Ms Bourke said.
South Australia's greyhound industry was put under scrutiny in 2023, after the ABC aired drone footage showing a greyhound beaten and terrorised with a quad bike on the property of trainers Tony and Lisa Rasmussen.
Mr and Mrs Rasmussen, who were not depicted in the footage, were later banned from the sport for life.
In May that year, the state government set in motion the Ashton Inquiry, which made 86 recommendations for improving governance and animal welfare, 57 of which were related to GRSA's operations.
Sports administrator Sal Perna was appointed Greyhound Racing Inspector and has been given a May 2026 deadline to ensure GRSA fully actions the recommendations.
Ms Bourke said the state government had also amended the Animal Welfare Act this year, enforcing mandatory reporting in greyhound racing and harsher penalties.
In his last report, Mr Perna said 16 recommendations had been fully implemented, including publishing quarterly injury rates, more regular doping tests and better reporting channels for complaints.
However, independent upper house member Tammy Franks MLC, a critic of the industry, said she wanted further parliamentary scrutiny of the industry.
"We have seen three quarterly reports which show very slow progress toward the targets," Ms Franks said.
"In some way we're also taking [GRSA] at their word. Those have not been tested in parliament, under parliamentary scrutiny, and I do think it's high time that that happened.
Ms Franks said she would reintroduce a bill to open up GRSA to freedom of information requests, after the Labor government shot it down last year against the inquiry's recommendations.
GRSA also laid 14 charges against greyhound trainer Madalyn Schulz on Thursday, including one count of not complying with the Animal Welfare Policy, while the 13 other charges include failing to notify GRSA of having custody of greyhounds, use of a barking muzzle and inadequate kennel construction.
Ms Schulz denied any and all wrongdoing.
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