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RQ introduces Greyhound Retirement Readiness Scheme

1 May 2022

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Racing Queensland will bolster its animal care initiatives through the introduction of the Greyhound Retirement Readiness Scheme.

Under the new National Greyhound Racing Rules, which commence today, a Queensland greyhound that is being retired as a pet must be desexed prior to leaving the care of its owner or registered person responsible - unless the greyhound is being accepted into an approved Greyhound Adoption Program.

As part of RQ’s commitment to implement strategies that demonstrate best practice in animal welfare, RQ has introduced the Greyhound Retirement Readiness Scheme, which will provide a capped amount of reimbursement, up to $800 per greyhound, towards the cost of desexing, dental treatment, vaccination and pre-anaesthetic blood tests for greyhounds that have been retired as pets.

The scheme supports participants to go above-and-beyond the requirements of the new national rule by providing financial support to not only desex their greyhounds, but also to ensure retired greyhounds go into their new lives as pets with good dental health and up-to-date vaccinations.

"The Greyhound Retirement Readiness Scheme is another positive initiative for the Queensland racing industry," RQ Executive General Manager Operations Adam Wallish said.

“Not only will it support Queensland industry participants’ compliance with the new mandatory desexing requirements under the Greyhounds Australasia Rules, the scheme has been designed to optimise overall greyhound health and wellbeing in retirement.

"In recent years, the code has taken significant strides in its welfare practices and the introduction of this scheme is another example of how the industry is working hard to ensure the successful transition of our greyhounds from athletes to pets.”

The Greyhound Retirement Readiness Scheme is another significant step in RQ’s whole-of-life greyhound commitment and follows the successful launch of its Race Meeting Injury Scheme in 2020, which provides significant financial support to cover veterinary treatment and rehabilitation costs for greyhounds injured during race meetings or official stewards’ trials.

While the new national rules will commence today, Queensland Racing Integrity Commissioner Shane Gillard said the agency would provide a short grace period to assist with compliance.

“Animal care remains the responsibility of each and every one of us within the Queensland racing industry,” Mr Gillard said.

"The introduction of the Greyhound Retirement Readiness Scheme is the latest mechanism to assist with this priority.

“As part of our approach, the QRIC will provide a transition period of 30 days until June 1, 2022 to ensure participants are able to familiarise themselves with the new retirement desexing requirements.”

Click here for further information on the Greyhound Retirement Readiness Scheme.

In addition, the new national rules now state that a greyhound must be fully vaccinated (C5) throughout its racing life and cannot compete in a race or trial for seven days after being vaccinated.

The QRIC will provide a 12-month penalty free moratorium period to May 1, 2023, for participants to adapt to the new C5 vaccination requirements, however, it is expected that compliance commences immediately.

At the end of the 12-month moratorium period, non-compliant greyhounds will be ineligible for nomination for events.

Click here for further information relating to the new National Greyhound Racing Rules.