As dog people, greyhounds mean everything to us. They are the stars of the sport and it’s important for them to have a rewarding retirement after their racing careers.
We have initiatives and programs in place to help greyhounds make a successful and rewarding transition from life in racing to new homes as pets.
Our Greyhounds as Pets WA program promotes, encourages and facilitates greyhound pet ownership to the wider community in Western Australia.
In WA, the Rules of Racing ensure all greyhounds are responsibly rehomed, including those that don’t race. Unless there is a medical or behavioural reason determined by a veterinarian or qualified animal behaviourist, all greyhounds bred for racing must be rehomed. All statistics around the number of greyhounds entering the industry or retiring from it are openly reported in RWWA’s Annual Report.
Our Greyhounds as Pets WA (GAP) program is responsible for rehoming more than 50 per cent of retiring greyhounds in Western Australia. There are various pathways for greyhounds to be rehomed, including:
- GAP and other third party rehoming groups
- Trainer or owner keeping the greyhound as a pet or to breed
- Trainer rehoming the greyhound privately
Greyhounds as Pets WA (GAP) is funded by the racing sector and matches retired greyhounds with their forever homes. GAP has dedicated animal behaviourists who use their expertise in canine behaviour to assist greyhounds adjust from life as an athlete to life as a pet. A tailored plan is created to suit the individual needs of each greyhound. The behaviour assessment is used to gather information about a greyhound’s needs and requirements in line modern rehoming practices.
Learn moreThe racing sector works with other greyhound rehoming groups to maximise rehoming and foster care opportunities for retired greyhounds.
The last registered owner or person responsible at the time of a greyhound’s retirement must ensure that the greyhound has been surgically sterilised and undergone a dental treatment, consisting of at least a complete dental scale and polish, by a veterinarian before the greyhound is rehomed. This helps to ensure both responsible rehoming as well as alleviate any financial pressure on rehoming groups for these treatments.
Greyhounds as Pets WA (GAP) has partnered with Applied Vocational Training (AVT) to facilitate a short-term intensive course in animal care and welfare. ATV’s nationally recognised course, ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care (Animal Health and Welfare), provides training for students seeking a career in animal care. The course is based both on-campus at the AVT Bentley training facility, at the Cat Haven in Shenton Park and at the GAP kennel facility in Southern River.
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