Industry updates / Two new Local Rules introduced from 17 December 2021

Following consultation with veterinary professionals and key industry stakeholders, GWIC will be introducing two new Local Racing Rules on 17 December 2021.

LR 37A Greyhound subject to a firing procedure

  1. A greyhound which has been subjected to a firing procedure is ineligible to compete in a race or trial.
  2. A person must not nominate a greyhound which has been subjected to a firing procedure in any race or trial.

‘Firing’ or ‘Pin Firing’ refers to the application of a thermal stimulus to the leg of an animal using a heated instrument or electrocautery electrode with the intention of causing one or more burns or other tissue damage that will stimulate a tissue repair response for the purpose of treating or correcting or preventing lameness or injury or weakness of tendon, ligament, joint capsule, periosteum, muscle, bone or cartilage.

In 1997, firing was made an offence in NSW under Section 21A of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 (POCTA). The introduction of this new Local Rule supports this legislation and reflects the greyhound industry’s view that there is no place in the sport for this unacceptable practice.

LR127 Restriction on breeding female 

  1. No application for exemption under R127 (10) will be considered where the breeding female that is the subject of the application is ten (10) years of age or older.
  2. No application for exemption under R127 (11) will be considered where the breeding female that is the subject of the application has already had five (5) or more litters.
  3. It is an offence for a participant to cause or allow a breeding female:
    1. aged ten years of age or older, or
    2. which has had five previous litters, to be serviced.

Participants will be familiar with the existing national Greyhound Racing Rules 127 (10) and (11) which prohibit participants breeding from female greyhounds that have reached the age of 8 years, or have already had 3 litters, unless they have been granted an exemption by the Controlling Body.

The Commission has reviewed its procedures for assessing these applications to ensure the welfare of greyhounds is protected, and the criteria for assessing the applications are clear and fair to applicants.

Based on this expert advice, two new limitations on applications are also coming into force – applications for exemption will no longer be considered where the female greyhound is aged 10 years or older, or has already had 5 litters.

The introduction of a lifetime limit of five litters through this new Local Rule will align with a similar standard in the Victorian Code of Practice for the Keeping of Racing Greyhounds.

These new restrictions have been supported by the Commission’s key stakeholder forums in the interests of greyhound welfare.

A new Breeding Exemption form will also be introduced, which includes a new comprehensive veterinary certificate which must be completed by the registered veterinary practitioner who examines the female greyhound.

Breeders should ensure they have allowed enough time for their veterinary practitioner to perform a thorough consultation and any necessary tests as part of their application for exemption prior to breeding.

These changes have been introduced to mitigate the welfare risks involved in breeding older greyhounds.