WELFARE OFF THE TRACK

Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) understands the importance of ensuring the overall wellbeing of greyhounds throughout their entire life.

Success in greyhound racing relies heavily on greyhounds being happy, healthy, and fit to perform at their best. However, it also relies on the community understanding all industry participants have a vested interest in the health and safety of greyhounds away from the track.

To provide guidance and support, the Rules of Racing and the Victorian Government’s Code of Practice for the Keeping of Racing Greyhounds (the Code) mandates how greyhounds are to be raised, kept, housed, trained, retired, and rehomed. The Code also limits the use of muzzles, mandates annual health checks, and vaccinations, and prohibits euthanasia except for serious medical or behavioural reasons.

The Code requires each property where greyhounds are kept to have a veterinarian approved Establishment and Health Management Plan (EHMP) in place that meets or exceeds Code minimums for housing, breeding, nutrition, socialisation, mental health, muzzle use, veterinary care, dental care, grooming, preparation for rehoming, and race education and training.

In addition, GRV supports the phasing out of surgical artificial insemination and ear branding practices. Both initiatives are being coordinated on a national level via Greyhounds Australasia.

Through its Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP), GRV is committed to ensuring retired greyhounds or those that do not race, are either adopted by a community member or retained by owners as pets. See our Rehoming fact sheet for further details.