WELFARE AND RE-HOMING REPORT

GREYHOUND WELFARE AND RE-HOMING REPORT

BY DR GAVIN GOBLE BVSC, GENERAL MANAGER, GREYHOUND WELFARE AND RE-HOMING

VACCINATIONS FOR GREYHOUNDS The Code of Practice requires all greyhounds to have a current C5 vaccination. Please speak to your veterinarian about when your greyhounds are next due for a vaccination. Just a reminder that the vaccination requirements for acceptance into GAP are more specific, so please check with GRV if you are planning to get a vaccination for this purpose. These requirements are also on the GAP page of this magazine. In addition to recording your greyhound’s vaccinations in its Greyhound Record, please also provide GRV with copies of your vaccination certificates for GRV to upload into FastTrack so there is a permanent record. This is particularly important if you are considering, or are already, breeding from your greyhound. These vaccination certificates are required to keep the Pink Card active.

the dog. If the rehoming form is not completely correctly,

Retiring greyhounds to a third party

For the last several months, I have discussed the importance of participants providing GRV with accurate and complete contact details when rehoming their greyhounds to third parties (i.e. anyone other than the racing owner). GRV checks every single third-party retirement and for those that are self-reported using FastTrack, we contact and ensure we speak to the new owner to confirm the retirement and the new owner’s details. It is also critical that participants comply with the Code of Practice rehoming requirements. Before you rehome your dog, please obtain a copy of the Participant Rehoming Guide and the Rehoming Pack from your local club or online at https://greyhoundcare.grv.org.au/rehoming/ rehoming-pack/. This package enables participants to comply with their rehoming requirements under the Code and provide GRV with complete rehoming information for quicker retirement management. When handing over the greyhound to the new owner, it is much easier to have them fill in their details and sign the form at the time, as this eliminates the need for GRV to contact both the racing GRV is a licensed Microchip Registry and must comply with laws that will not allow the dog to be transferred into the new owner’s name until the new owner confirms that they have

owner and the new owner. GRV will need to contact the new owner to verify their correct details: ■ Name (first and last name) ■ Full address (including suburb, state and postcode) ■ Phone number ■ Email address ■ Alternate contact person name and phone number (in case the dog is found wandering and the owner cannot be contacted) Once the new owner’s details are verified by GRV, and the retirement has been confirmed, the greyhound’s status will change to ‘Retired’, it will move to the participant’s ‘My Retired Dogs’ list, and you will be advised of the change via email.

BREEDING TIPS

WITH BARRY SMITH Multiple Group 1 winning breeder and the man behind the famous ‘Mepunga’ bloodline

The series includes:

■ The basics of successful greyhound breeding ■ The cost of breeding greyhounds ■ Selecting a sire Breeding to sires with international bloodlines Broodmatrons and young pups Choosing a pup Interacting with pups Lead training and gamesmanship Housing and exercising pups

Early socialisation – preparing your greyhound pups for a successful racing career

Breeding utilisation rate, or racing success, is a common topic in the greyhound racing industry. Since 2015, GRV has worked hard with participants to improve breeding utilisation to better balance the number of pups born with the racing needs of the industry. Most participants know genetics is not the only factor that influences racing success; early socialisation and rearing environments are just as, if not more, important. A poorly socialised greyhound is likely to find many things challenging. They will struggle to adapt to a kennel environment, or any different environment or situation. Their fear response can interfere with their motivation to chase, making them difficult to educate, and even if successfully educated, distraction at the racetrack is likely to impact on their racing success. Ultimately the greyhound will be more difficult to re-home. GRV has several educational booklets to help breeders and rearers to grow the most successful racing greyhounds including: ■ Socialisation greyhounds for racing success - https:// greyhoundcare.grv.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/

GRV-Socialising-for-Success-191219.pdf; and ■ A series of booklets on breeding successful racing greyhounds, specifically: ☐ Booklet 2: Developing a Breeding Program – Understanding Genetics https://greyhoundcare.grv. org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/GRV-Breederbooklets-Booklet-2.pdf ☐ Booklet 3: Starting a Breeding Program https://greyhoundcare.grv.org.au/wp-content/ uploads/2019/10/GRV-Breeder-booklets-Booklet-3. pdf ☐ Booklet 8: Care and Early Development https://greyhoundcare.grv.org.au/wp-content/ uploads/2019/10/GRV-Breeder-booklets-Booklet-8. pdf If you want to know more about improving your breeding and racing success, please take a look at these booklets.

Vaccinations

Now that it is mandatory under the Code for all greyhounds to have a current C5 vaccination, now is a good time to be vaccinating for Kennel Cough if not already done so this year. Please speak to your veterinarian or GRV about the most appropriate Kennel Cough vaccination because there are three different options (intra-nasal, oral and injectable).

GAP Update

GRV would like to thank participants for their patience during the challenging times that GAP has faced over the last 4-5 months. GAP has now returned to regular preentry assessment sessions across the state where clubs offer facilities that allow COVID-19 safety restrictions to be properly implemented. However, this could change with changes to movement restrictions imposed by the Government, but you will be notified if this is the case. If you want to book dogs into GAP, please contact Racing Services as you have always done. If you are considering GAP for a greyhound, or you envisage a need in the future, please book it in early to avoid the waiting time when they need it. Booking in early doesn’t commit you, but it does give you an option if you need it at short notice.