The Chief Commissioner of the NSW Greyhound Welfare & Integrity Commission, Mr Alby Taylor, announced that from 1 May 2023 important changes to the industry’s rehoming policy take effect.

“Based upon industry and key stakeholder feedback the Commission has made changes to its rehoming policy that ensure that the policy supports and underpins the industry’s commitment to zero unnecessary euthanasia”, Mr Taylor said,

The key changes to the rehoming policy include:

• Greyhounds can no longer be retired or surrendered to a NSW or interstate facility that conducts animal research, animal plasma or blood collection.
• Greyhounds can only be rehomed to Council pounds with prior approval of the Commission.
• The making of two genuine attempts to rehome and notifying GWIC of the intent to euthanise is NO longer permitted.
• A greyhound can be humanely euthanised by a veterinarian if it has bitten a person (with medical evidence) or if it has failed a temperament assessment undertaken by a veterinary practitioner or other person approved by GRNSW.

“It is the responsibility of all greyhound owners to adhere to the requirements of the Rehoming Policy and it is important that they understand the changes” Mr Taylor said.

“There is a community expectation that there is no unnecessary euthanasia of greyhounds and I thank Greyhound Racing NSW, the Greyhound Breeders Owners & Trainers Association and Greyhound Clubs NSW for their strong support for the making of these changes”.

The NSW Rehoming Policy further demonstrates the NSW Greyhound industry’s strong commitment to holding itself to highest standards in the world when it comes to the welfare of its animal athletes.

Participants can find out further information about the Rehoming Policy by visiting our website www.giwc.nsw.gov.au or contacting us on 13 49 42

A copy of the Commission’s rehoming policy can be found at https://www.gwic.nsw.gov.au/integrity/rules-and-policies/re-homing-policy

Contact: media@gwic.nsw.gov.au | 0448 193 270