 By Sian Tate

 Greyhound Racing New Zealand – GRNZ / NZGRA  Regional greyhound racing clubs  Greyhounds as Pets - GAP  Breeders, owners and trainers  TAB  The Greyhound Protection League – GPLNZ

 The Animal Welfare Act 1999  Codes of Welfare under the Act:  Animal Welfare (Dogs) Code of Welfare 2010  Animal Welfare (Racing Industry Greyhounds) Code of Welfare 2013  Dog Control Act 1996

3 rd Degree investigates Early 2013 Footage of offal pits shown to NZGRA NZGRA independent welfare review June 2013 Review finds welfare issues GRNA puts a plan in place to improve animal welfare issues of the industry

 3 rd Degree investigation in 2013 driving force  Track safety and injuries  Overbreeding  “Missing” dogs  Numerous healthy dogs euthanized  Disposal of bodies

“Due to a lack of effective reporting the review team was unable to establish what happens to these greyhounds.” NZGRA Independent Welfare Report

GPLNZ  1400 dogs added to industry each year  Up to 200 rehomed by GAP  Up to 1200 ‘missing’ each year NZGRA  Average 770 whelped each year, 35% never race  3454 dogs ‘missing’ over 13 years

 Legally can be done by a Vet on humane grounds or if no other options are available.  Evidence that ‘retired’ often means dog has been euthanized  Offal pits used for disposal of greyhound bodies  Are healthy dogs being euthanized because they don’t race well?

 “…abuse, confined spaces, overbreeding and significant injuries which often end in euthanasia.” GPLNZ  “little evidence of issues relating to the care of greyhounds during their racing careers.” NZGRA Independent Welfare Report

 Is a problem because it leads to excess dogs (unraced) in the industry  35% whelped dogs between never made it to the track

 Average racing career 1.5 years  Code of welfare outlines owners responsibilities  Greyhounds as Pets wp-content/uploads/2013/10/1- July-14.jpg wp-content/uploads/2013/10/1- July-14.jpg  77% have euthanized a healthy dog  Approx. 30% of dogs retired from industry ‘09-’12 listed as deceased.

 Welfare officer appointed  Welfare code  Registration for breeders  Database for dogs  More funding for GAP  Performance objective to reduce dog deaths  Improve track standards  Euthanasia policy

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Bingham, E. (Producer), Enticott, P. (Editor), Penfold, P. (Reporter). (2013). Shocking New Greyhound Revelations [video]. New Zealand: 3 rd Degree. Colgan, Bill., Foy, Les., Neil, Craig. (2013). New Zealand Greyhound Racing Association: Independent Welfare Review. New Zealand: WHK Greyhound Safe. (2013, February 26). Inquiry Launched into Greyhound Racing – New Zealand [Video file]. Retrieved from Animal Welfare Act (1999). Retrieved from Animal Welfare (Racing Industry Greyhounds) Code of Welfare (2013). (2014, January 11). Retrieved from Animal Welfare (Dogs) Code of Welfare (2010). (2010, June 11). Retrieved from Greyhound Racing New Zealand: The Dogs. (2009). Rules and Policies/News Articles. Retrieved from Greyhounds as Pets. (2013). Retrieved from