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 and ensure your Kennel Cough vaccine is up to date. 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.
Updated Breeding Exemption Application Form GRV has undertaken a review of the Breeding Exemption Application Form which is required when a breeder wishes to breed from a female greyhound that is over 8 years of age and/or already had 3 or 4 litters. GRV has released a new form which includes Code of Practice requirements. This new form will be mandatory from 1 June 2021. The new form replaces the two forms that were previously used (two-step submission), with a single form to be completed by both the breeder and their veterinarian (one-step submission). GRV has informed all greyhound veterinarians on the database and sent them a copy of the form. For more information on the Breeding Exemption Application process and to download the form, please visit https:// greyhoundcare.grv.org.au/breeding/breeding-restrictionexemption-application/.
Greyhound behaviour and racing success The behaviour of the adult greyhound is affected by its early experiences with people, other greyhounds, dogs of other breeds and other animals, as well as a range of different environments. A greyhound’s ability to confidently cope and adapt to different situations as it prepares for, and undertakes, a racing career is key to racing success. A well socialised greyhound:
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will be calmer and more relaxed in a learning (rearing, education and training) environment, as well as in the race setting;
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will interact in positive way with other greyhounds and humans; and
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will cope better in a variety of environments and situations; and
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when it comes to rehoming will recognise other breeds of dogs, particularly small dogs, as dogs and not as prey.
This Socialising greyhounds for racing success booklet provides valuable information on how to expose your greyhounds to positive experiences through socialisation and habituation. It talks about what socialisation means for racing success and what you can do to socialise greyhounds at any stage of their lifecycle. For more information, download https://greyhoundcare.grv. org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/GRV-Socialising-forSuccess-191219.pdf
Surrendering greyhounds to a pound Surrendering a greyhound to a council pound is a breach of the Code of Practice for the Keeping of Racing Greyhounds (Code). A council pound can either be a council-run facility or a facility run by another organisation (including a shelter) that contracts to the council. If a participant is considering surrendering a greyhound to a shelter (i.e., not a volunteer re-homing group) they must check with that shelter and/or their local council to determine if that shelter is acting as the contracted pound to their municipality. Current waiting times to get greyhounds into GAP are still short, so if participants do not have a new owner lined up for their greyhound, GAP is a great first re-homing option ahead of other volunteer re-homing groups. The best way to ensure your greyhound has the easiest transition to retirement is to ensure your greyhound is well socialised with people and other breeds of dogs. For more information on retiring your greyhound visit: https:// greyhoundcare.grv.org.au/rehoming/#participants.
