NSW Greyhound Integrity Commission announce new Breeder-Owner and Breeder-Whelper licensing
A major moment has arrived for greyhound breeding in New South Wales (NSW) which will facilitate greater access to experts and drive industry-leading standards of welfare.
In a move sparked by the NSW Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission (GWIC) following extensive consultation with industry, the creation of two new breeder categories – “Breeder-Owner” and “Breeder-Owner” – will dramatically improve access for those without breeding facilities of their own.
The move will also reduce regulatory red tape and cost to owners and trainers.
“This initiative removes the reliance on breeder leases, giving Breeder-Owners the opportunity to best utilise the expertise of highly qualified and well-resourced whelpers,” said Mr Steve Griffin, Chief Executive Officer, GWIC.
“The specialised facilities, depth of knowledge and 24/7 monitoring provided by these whelpers will help to ensure the best standard of care for new litters, driving higher standards of welfare across the industry and positioning NSW as the global leader in greyhound welfare.”
As well as ease of access to expert care, the new “Breeder-Owner” category also creates a platform for greater recognition.
Owners who wish to be involved with breeding can now be credited for developing their own dam line racing team.
The second of the GWIC's new breeder categories, “Breeder-Whelper”, is for those who still wish to manage the whelping or care for pups before they are old enough to leave the dam.
This is further acknowledgment of the resources, experience and proficiency of whelpers.
The historic step GWIC has taken in creating these new categories is also part of its move to streamline regulation through participant-friendly measures while continuing to drive higher standards of welfare.
Those measures include the new digital eTrac portal which provides participants with a way to make quick, easy and paper-free transactions 24/7
The new categories will be applied from July 1 2023.
From 1 July 2023, the Commission has introduced two types of breeder registration – a Breeder-Owner and a Breeder-Whelper.
A Breeder–Owner license category allows participants to:
- Arrange the service of a greyhound.
- Keep a pregnant greyhound.
- Retain ownership of any greyhound pups whelped.
A Breeder-Owner is not permitted to:
- Whelp a litter of pups.
- Rear greyhound puppies before the litter is registered.
- Train or trial a greyhound.
- Draw semen from a greyhound sire.
- Artificially inseminate a greyhound.
A Breeder–Whelper licence allows participants:
- Arrange the service of a greyhound.
- Keep a pregnant greyhound.
- Unless engaged by a Breeder-Owner to whelp a litter on their behalf, retain ownership of any greyhound pups whelped.
- Whelp a litter of pups.
- Rear greyhound puppies, noting a litter can not move until it is registered.
Breeder-Whelpers are not allowed to:
- Train or trial a greyhound.
- Draw semen from a greyhound sire.
- Artificially inseminate a greyhound.