Greyhound racing authorities publicly call it 'abhorrent'. They also say it has been 'outlawed'. But that hasn't stopped high profile trainers across the country from subjecting defenceless animals to barbaric live baiting rituals in an attempt to gain a 'winning' edge on the racetrack.

The damning Animals Australia and Animal Liberation Qld investigations have revealed that this sadistic training method is all too common.

Terrified piglets, rabbits and native possums are all victims of live baiting — tied to lures, flung around racetracks at breakneck speeds, and then mauled to death. Some animals who survived their first attack were 're-used' multiple times...

'Bait' animals are not the only victims of this industry. Greyhounds themselves — naturally gentle dogs — are often kept in deplorable living conditions off-track.

Live baiters will taunt and incite their dogs to chase, attack, and ultimately kill small animals. If dogs fail to 'perform', they too may be killed. Industry-wide, some 18,000 greyhounds are killed every year because they aren't deemed fast enough to win races.

The big question is — how can six state and territory governments and sponsors continue to support an industry that has been exposed for such abhorrent widespread illegal activity?