A visual guide to the new Code of Practice for the Keeping of Racing Greyhounds

A visual guide to the new Code of Practice for the Keeping of Racing Greyhounds.

Greyhound husbandry

Icon of greyhound with food and water bowl

  • Puppy vaccinations complete by 16 weeks.
  • Annual health checks and vaccinations required for all greyhounds.
  • Muzzles must not prevent panting or drinking or cause pain or distress.
  • Emphasis on critical socialisation period.
  • Greyhounds can be exercised, socialised and enriched according to the Code or alternate protocols in the approved Establishment Health Management Plan (EHMP).
  • Greyhounds can be prepared for rehoming using the process outlined in the Code or alternate protocols in the approved EHMP.
  • Stress intervention and possible management actions must be recorded in the approved EHMP.

Facilities

Icon of greyhound in shelter

Fences, kennels and yards

  • Fences must be constructed to prevent greyhounds from being injured or escaping.
  • Minimum of two barriers between greyhounds and escape from the establishment.
  • Barriers must be at least 1.2m high
  • 3 to 9m² for single greyhound housing only. They need a minimum of four breaks daily.
  • 10m² of housing required per each additional greyhound.
  • Weatherproof area is required for all outdoor pens or yards.
  • 15m² whelping area can include adjoining exercise or day yards.

Records

 Icon of greyhound and paper folder

  • Greyhound record to be a complete health history for each greyhound.
  • Individual greyhound records required from birth.
  • Greyhounds being sold, given away or moved from an establishment must be accompanied by their up-to-date greyhound record.
  • Greyhound record to follow a greyhound each time it moves between establishments or Persons in Charge.

Staffing and staff ratio

Greyhound and person icon

  • Person in Charge is accountable for greyhound welfare and establishment management.
  • Establishments must have a sufficient number of suitably qualified or experienced staff to care for all greyhounds.
  • 1:50 ratio for greyhounds over 16 weeks of age and 1:25 thereafter.
  • 1:20 ratio for greyhounds under 16 weeks of age. This acknowledges the critical socialisation period for puppies (3 to 16 weeks).
  • For 50 or less greyhounds, overnight monitoring (in person or remote) only required to care for whelping, sick or injured greyhounds.
  • Overnight monitoring (in person or remote) only required for all establishments with 51 or more greyhounds.
  • Mandatory training for all new industry participants, training for existing participants as required.

Establishment and Health Management Plan (EHMP)

Icon of greyhound and clipboard

  • Flexibility for participants to develop their own protocols and procedures.
  • Mandatory for all Persons in Charge keeping racing greyhounds.
  • If the Code's minimum requirements are not adopted, alternative protocols for exercise, socialisation, enrichment and rehoming requirements can be outlined in the EHMP.
  • Does not include training protocols.
  • Approved by a veterinary practitioner initially and then every three years after.
  • Submitted to Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV).
  • Reviewed annually by Person in Charge.

Timeline

 Timeline of events, listing in text to follow

  • February 2015 — Four Corners live baiting report
  • April 2016 — Bittar Report
  • 2016 to 2018 — Review existing code
  • 14 June 2017 — Draft code released
  • April 2018 — Code released
  • 2018 to 2019 — Implementation planning
  • 1 January 2019 — Muzzles off for non-racing greyhounds
  • 1 January 2020 — Code commences
  • 2020 onward — Implementation of the code

Life stages of a racing greyhound

{image: infographic-life-stages-of-a-racing-greyound.jpg ALT: An infographic that shows the life stages of a racing greyhound from Birth, rearing, education and pre-training, training, racing and breeding to retirement and adoption, and family life}

An infographic that shows the life stages of a racing greyhound from Birth, rearing, education and pre-training, training, racing and breeding to retirement and adoption, and family life

This page is also available as a PDF. View New Code of Practice for the keeping of racing greyhounds infographic.

Page last updated: 06 Jul 2020