Live Lure Training

In August 2025, investigators in Kansas filmed three individuals engaging in the live lure training of multiple greyhounds on the farm of Shannon Henry, located just two miles away from the National Greyhound Association headquarters in Abilene. Live rabbits were hung from a mechanical arm, greyhounds were released to chase the lure and then allowed to catch and maul the screaming rabbits. Ms. Henry is a longtime greyhound breeder and owns hundreds of dogs racing in West Virginia. Henry-owned racers have broken multiple track records at Mardi Gras and Wheeling, including dogs who were members of both All-Star and All-American teams. A complaint and request for an investigation has been filed with the West Virginia Racing Commission.

In December 2023, an unnamed Victorian greyhound handler was suspended after alleged baiting offences were uncovered.

In October 2023, Zeke Kadir, who was caught on tape during the 2015 live-baiting scandal in New South Wales, was given a lifetime ban from greyhound racing.

In September 2023, the licence of Tasmanian's largest greyhound handler, Anthony Bullock, was suspended after he was found in possession of an animal part capable of being used as a lure.

In September 2023, Leslie Kenyon and an unnamed Victorian greyhound handler were immediately suspended after evidence of luring and baiting was found on their property.

In June 2023, three South Australian greyhound handlers Troy, Connor and Jackson Murray were handed life bans after they were found to have been involved in live baiting.

In October 2022, greyhound handler Sam Masri was disqualified following the discovery of live rabbits and possums on his property. He was handed a lifetime ban in December 2022.

In October 2022, Queensland greyhound handler Serena Lawrance was disqualified for eighteen months for associating with a person who was warned off for ten years for live baiting.

In November 2021, greyhound handler Rinaldo DiVirgilio received a mandatory lifetime ban after being found guilty for multiple live baiting-related offenses. Stewards discovered three traps and two live possums on the handler's property.

In June 2021, a surveillance operation by GREY2K USA Worldwide revealed evidence of live lure training in Greeley, Colorado on a farm operated by longtime greyhound breeders John E. and Jill Jen Lashmet. Fifteen greyhounds were encouraged to chase, pin and maul their prey during the course of an hour. The Lashmet farm bred and trained dogs for racing in multiple states and at the Agua Caliente track in Mexico. The Colorado Racing Commission and the Attorney General's office ignored GREY2K's offical compliants and repeated requests for criminal charges.

In July 2020, investigators in Kansas filmed the notorious Ursula Abbie O’Donnell live baiting at least nine greyhounds on her farm located just two miles away from the National Greyhound Association headquarters in Abilene. Ms. O’Donnell is a longtime greyhound breeder and has a particularly corrupt history. She was arrested in 2002 for felony animal cruelty after being implicated in a scheme to kill thousands of unwanted racing dogs by gunshot on an Alabama farm. In the years since, she has been found with drug-positive dogs multiple times, has paid a substantial fine, but still retained her license in the states of Florida and perhaps West Virginia. The NGA has taken no public action against her at any time.

In June and July 2020, a surveillance operation by GREY2K USA revealed evidence of live lure training in Elgin, Texas. Activities appeared to be orchestrated by third generation greyhound breeder Tori Michelle Shepherd, whose social media commentary read that she learned how to train greyhounds from her grandfather. Dozens of dogs were encouraged to chase, pin and maul small animals. The Shepherd farm bred and trained dogs for use in racing all across the country, including West Virginia and Florida. Ms. Shepherd's namesake "Torrington" was one of several dogs owned by Byron Jay Childs, a member of the board of directors of the National Greyhound Association. GREY2K filed complaints with the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas and the state Attorney General, but no enforcement action was taken.

In March 2020, another surveillance operation by GREY2K caught five people in the act of torturing live jackrabbits on a training farm in Oklahoma. Three of these individuals were identified as greyhound breeders Wesley L. Parvin and Haskell County Deputy Sheriff Jason Martin, along with Martin’s daughter Brooklyn. The investigation revealed forty-five greyhounds killing dozens of jackrabbits over two days. The two breeders were transporting greyhounds to race in several states and are known to have business relationships with key individuals in the national racing industry. GREY2K filed complaints with the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the state Attorney General as well as the local District Attorney for Haskell County. Officials in West Virginia and Florida were also informed of these activities. No action was taken.

In February 2015, an undercover investigation revealed that rabbits, possums, and pigs were being used to train greyhounds throughout Australia. As a result of this proof of live baiting, several major greyhound racing sponsors withdrew their support for the industry, dozens of owners and trainers were suspended or banned, and members of racing boards resigned. Numerous state investigations into the industry were launched, proving widespread endemic cruelty and merciless killings perpetrated by the greyhound industry. In New South Wales, the industry was temporarily banned in late 2016. In July 2022, seven years after the Four Corners exposé into live baiting, NSW greyhound breeder Jason Bowell conceded live baiting was still occurring in NSW.

In September 2011, a Texas greyhound trainer named Timothy Norbert Titsworth was caught on video training greyhounds with live rabbits. In a video transcript prepared by the State Racing Commission, the rabbits were heard screaming as they were chased and subsequently caught by the dogs. An individual on the tape remarks, “Got a little blood, didn’t it?” Titsworth later remarks that “these dogs have had seven rabbits in the field. And then they’ve had about eight on the whirligig.” As a result of the investigation, Titsworth’s license was revoked, and he faced a criminal charge of cruelty to non-livestock animals in Burleson County, Texas. However, the case was dismissed in April 2012.