NSW regulator makes sweeping changes to greyhound rehoming protocols
“Based upon industry and key stakeholder feedback the Commission has made changes to its rehoming policy that ensure that the policy supports and underpins the industry's commitment to zero unnecessary euthanasia”, Mr Taylor said,
The key changes to the rehoming policy include:
- Greyhounds can no longer be retired or surrendered to a NSW or interstate facility that conducts animal research, animal plasma or blood collection.
- Greyhounds can only be rehomed to Council pounds with prior approval of the Commission.
- The making of two genuine attempts to rehome and notifying GWIC of the intent to euthanise is no longer permitted.
- A greyhound can be humanely euthanised by a veterinarian if it has bitten a person (with medical evidence) or if it has failed a temperament assessment undertaken by a veterinary practitioner or other person approved by GRNSW.
GWIC has again reminded participants that all responsibility for greyhounds rests with the registered owners.
“It is the responsibility of all greyhound owners to adhere to the requirements of the Rehoming Policy and it is important that they understand the changes” Mr Taylor said.
GWIC's Chief Commissioner claims that all changes to the rehoming policy were made after consultation and fully supported by NSW's owners and trainers representative groups.
A GWIC spokesperson says that “The NSW Rehoming Policy further demonstrates the NSW Greyhound industry's strong commitment to holding itself to highest standards in the world when it comes to the welfare of its animal athletes”.
Participants can find out further information about the Rehoming Policy by visiting the GWIC website.
The biggest flaw here is the temperament test. Greys need time to decompress, and the large number needing to be rehomed means euthanasia will increase.
my recommendation is a quota system, if you successfully rehomed x, then there are x divided by average litter number registrations available in the following season.
A better rehoming policy is great. There needs to be a lot more awareness around the health and well-being of the dogs, from the time they are born, throughout their racing life & in their retirement also.
They are beautiful, intelligent dogs & deserve to be treated with kindness & love, not as a way of making a person money.
I wonder if all owners and trainers gave up a small amount of their money on a weekly basis we could afford to rent a property on a 5 year lease and selected people could live on the property and take care of the 200 to 300 retired greyhounds. That would take the heat off considerably. Whether we have a few million or just 200 dollars to our name in time to come congestion in the gap program is going to spiral out of control. I know my niece will put her hand up as a carer of a huge… Read more »