GAP Rehoming Enhancements – already achieved or currently underway.
- Since July 2023, the waiting list at GAP has been reduced from 9.5 months to 7 months.
- Last month GAP rehomed its 1000th greyhound.
- All greyhounds entering GAP are now required to be desexed, saving valuable time.
- Since 15 January 2024, Tasracing has added funding for dentals and C5 vaccination to desexing initiative to minimise vet visits and time wasted while at GAP (new Greyhound Retirement Preparation Scheme GRPS).
- Increased fostering capacity from 2 to 7 foster homes: providing additional training in a domestic setting for GHs to become ‘adoption-ready’.
- Doubling the GAP behaviourist contact time to 2 days per week to increase staff training and the rate of behavioural assessment and modification work provided for all GAP greyhounds.
- All kennel attendants receiving ongoing training to reinforce individually tailored behavioural programs daily.
- An ‘Express Entry Lane’ is currently being trialled for 6 months for expedited access of dogs to GAP by reserving a proportion of kennel capacity (4 kennels initially) for greyhounds that have been provided with additional fostering/training by their trainer/owner to increase their adoptability.
- Since 1 Jan 2024 greyhounds on GAP waiting list have been allowed to continue racing until they reach closer to their GAP entry date. Onus on owner/trainer to monitor waiting list to ensure their dog completes wind-down, desexing, vaccination and other requirements; otherwise, will lose their spot.
GAP Rehoming Enhancements – planned.
- GAP is planning to be the majority stakeholder (along with industry) in the greyhound rehoming market. This is essential to deflect criticism from alternative (usually anti-racing) rehoming organisations.
- Engagement is planned with trainers, in tandem with the introduction of the proposed greyhound welfare Code of Practice, to increase the level of adoption readiness for greyhounds coming onto the program (including socialisation protocols).
- Partnerships: GAP will approach selected ancillary rehoming organisations about partnering in the fostering and rehoming of retired greyhounds. One of the mechanisms to achieve this will be via Tasracing’s new Racing Animal Welfare Grants program to commence early 2024.
- The planned building work at the GAP site for a new admin building and kennel block will increase the greyhound capacity, which will increase the ‘pool’ of adoption-ready dogs, making a rehoming rate of 3-4 greyhounds per week more achievable.
- Developing ‘how to get ready for GAP’ (socialisation) info for trainers to encourage pre-GAP work to reduce timelines.
- Increased marketing efforts to boost GAP’s social media presence for successful adoptions and special GAP event to continue to drive application numbers.
- GAP is shortly going to rehome its 1000th greyhound (currently on 993 GHs rehomed) – special marketing event planned.
Dr Martin Lenz
Chief Veterinary & Animal Welfare Officer