Greyhound racing

An independent regulatory authority should be established to oversee and enforce animal welfare standards for the whole industry. Those on the board of an independent authority must include at least one AVA nominated veterinarian to ensure the interests of greyhounds and all other animals are appropriately protected.

 

Legislation and industry codes must be developed to ensure the welfare of greyhounds for their entire life, from breeding and rearing stages through training, racing and eventual retirement and rehoming. An accurate and reliable national database capable of tracking the entire life cycle of each greyhound must be maintained in order to monitor compliance. Veterinary involvement at all stages of greyhounds’ lives is key, including advice on breeding, early socialisation, routine preventative health care, humane training practices, injury prevention and treatment, and post-racing welfare. Schemes which enhance whole-of-life welfare for greyhounds should be factored into any state funding and industry financial planning. This would include adequate funding for regular kennel /property inspections and to ensure the detection of banned substances remains current and responsive. Out of competition testing for banned substances must be expanded.

 

Veterinarians should:

Legislation and codes of practice should be developed to address the lack of standards for breeding and rearing of greyhounds. Solutions would include licensing of breeders, adoption of enforceable breeder standards and regular inspection of breeding establishments to ensure compliance. All greyhounds must be provided with appropriate environmental enrichment and opportunities to socialise with a range of different environmental situations, people and other animals from an early age. This will enhance their welfare and improve their chances of eventual rehoming.

 

Revelations of live baiting being used as a training method demonstrated serious shortcomings in the attitude of industry participants toward animal welfare, and a failure by the industry to adequately investigate, address and remedy unacceptable animal welfare practices. An independent regulatory authority is necessary to protect the interests of all animals involved in this industry. Proactive monitoring must be implemented and compliance strictly enforced. Education of industry participants about acceptable methods of training using non-animal devices is essential.

 

There is a need for accurate and reliable data collection on injuries sustained both on and off the track. The incidence of race day injuries is relatively high and those sustained during trial events, when a veterinarian is not present, are unknown under the current system. The attendance of a veterinarian at all trial tracks should be mandatory. The AGV injury treatment guidelines must apply to trial tracks as well as race tracks (link)

 

The industry must collaborate more effectively with veterinarians, scientists and other experts to adequately address causative factors of the high rate of greyhound euthanasia and wastage. Breeding, rearing and training practices must be conducive to eventual rehoming of greyhounds to reduce euthanasia rates.

 

There should be zero tolerance for the practice of surrendering greyhounds to pounds or shelters when they are no longer considered “useful” for racing. Nor should dogs be inhumanely killed, euthanased, or given away without being neutered or undergoing a behavioural assessment. While industry-funded greyhound adoption programs are very worthwhile, they currently only assist a relatively small percentage of available animals. To address public concerns regarding the current highly funded focus on a relatively small percentage of dogs, the greyhound racing industry should strive to create a national retirement program that offers a wider range of services to a larger number of dogs, such as behavioural assessment, health care and neutering. Cooperation with other prominent adoption groups may be appropriate. It is recommended that this be nationally coordinated and industry-funded through a specific levy at pup registration.

 

Export of greyhounds should be assessed on a case by case basis. Export of greyhounds to countries which lack robust animal welfare standards is not supported.

 

Greyhounds should only be permitted to be exported to destinations where the welfare of each individual greyhound will be guaranteed. Destinations must have acceptable animal protection laws, acceptable standards of care, acceptable living/racing conditions, formal rehoming programs and lifecycle tracking systems. Where these measures are not in place, greyhounds should not be exported. Stringent government regulated export standards are urgently needed.

 

Philosophy on animal welfare and the veterinarian

Socially responsible companion animal ownership

Use of horses for entertainment