UPCOMING GRV VIC BRED SERIES

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.

Desexing and Dental Scheme

The Desexing and Dental Scheme is going extremely well but just a reminder that only participants can apply for it while the greyhound is in their care, as the underlying principle is to ensure greyhounds are desexed prior to rehoming. It is also available for greyhounds retained as pets by participants, even those that were already retired as pets prior to July 2021. For more information visit https://greyhoundcare.grv.org.au/rehoming/desexing/ or phone the welfare team.

Surrendering greyhounds to a shelter

Surrendering a greyhound to a council pound is a breach of the Code of Practice for the Keeping of Racing Greyhounds and that is straightforward for a council-managed facility. However, some shelters also provide contracted pound services to one or more councils. If you are considering surrendering a greyhound to a shelter that also provides pound services, you must check that none of the racing connections (including the trainer) reside in a municipality that the shelter provides pound services for. For more information on retiring your greyhound to a shelter visit:

https://greyhoundcare.grv.org.au/retirement-from-

racing/#shelters.

Fireworks, summer storms and greyhounds

Fear of loud noises, such as fireworks and summer storms, is quite common. The worst times of the year tend to be in spring and summer when significant storms are more likely to occur, and around New Year’s Eve when there are lots of fireworks.

Fear of storms and fireworks can have significant racing implications for greyhounds with the potential to derail their racing program. Instead of resting, your greyhound will be using essential energy as part of the fear response and tiring themselves before they race. What can you do? 1. Look at ways to reduce exposure. The most obvious way to achieve this are to: ■ House/board the greyhounds away from areas where fireworks are used.

■ Block out light (e.g. covering windows to block out flashes of lightning). ■ Put on music, or white noise CD in the kennel block to help dull the sound. 2. For serious responses to thunderstorms, you should consider creating a safe space for the greyhound within their kennel where they can feel protected. A large crate could be placed inside their kennel covered in blankets and their bed moved into the crate. The door to the crate must be left open, but the dark small space may provide a sense of security and reduce their fear. If you cannot limit your greyhound’s exposure to the noise to a level that they can cope with and remain calm, then you must seek help from your veterinarian to develop a medication plan. For more information, visit

https://greyhoundcare.grv.org.au/health-and-well-being/ managing-other-problem-behaviours-in-greyhounds/#fear_

of_load_noises.