Housing and Environment
OBJECTIVE: To ensure that every greyhound is provided with housing that provides adequate space, shelter and comfort, having regard to the greyhound’s age, size, and behavioural needs.
Construction of housing pens, kennels and yards
5.1 All enclosures used to keep greyhounds must provide at least enough space for each greyhound to feed, sleep, sit, stand, lie with limbs extended, stretch and move about. R.
5.2 Greyhounds must be securely confined to prevent their escape from the property at which they are kept, and prevent unauthorised persons gaining access to the greyhounds. Unless the greyhound is under supervision, there must be at least two barriers between a greyhound and escape from the property at all times. R.
5.3 All greyhound enclosures, housing and sleeping areas must be designed, constructed and maintained in a way that is safe and provides for the well-being of greyhounds. R.
5.4 Any security measures installed in or around greyhound housing areas must not prevent easy access to greyhounds, or efficient removal of greyhounds in the event of an emergency. R.
5.5 Vehicles, caravans, trailers, portable crates and the crawl space under any dwelling must not be used as long-term housing for greyhounds.
Indoor housing
5.6 All indoor greyhound housing areas must have adequate ventilation. R.
5.7 Where greyhounds are housed in an enclosed environment in which air conditioning and/or fans provide the only form of air movement:
- temperature must be maintained at between 16C and 26C;
- effective air cleaning and filtration must be in place; and
- a power back-up and effective alarm system must be installed and available for use in the event of power failures or breakdown.
5.8 Where greyhounds are housed indoors, light cycles must be as close as possible to natural conditions.
Greyhound housing area space requirements
5.9 Unless directed otherwise by a veterinarian, greyhound housing areas must meet the minimum space requirements outlined in Table 1.
Housing and Environment
5.10 Greyhound housing areas must provide greyhounds adequate protection against extreme temperatures, direct sunlight, humidity, dampness, persistent loud noises, light pollution, noxious odours and draughts. R.
5.11 While in outdoor yards and other enclosures, greyhounds must have access to shelter from rain, sun and extreme temperatures. R.
Sleeping areas
5.12 Areas where greyhounds sleep must:
- include a raised bed or wooden pallet, which is large enough for the greyhound to lay down completely stretched out on;
- be equipped with bedding that is warm, soft and dry; and made of materials that are safe for greyhounds and puppies; and,
- afford each greyhound privacy from other greyhounds while sleeping.
Table 1. Minimum space requirements for greyhound housing areas.
| Minimum requirements for one greyhound | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Enclosure type | Minimum width | Minimum height | Total area |
| Pen (includes kennel) | 1.2 metres | 1.8 metres | 3.5 sqm |
| Minimum requirements for two greyhounds | |||
| Pen (includes kennel) | 2.4 metres | 1.8 metres | 7 sqm |
| Mating Greyhounds Pen | 3 metres | 1.8 metres | 15 sqm |
| Minimum requirements for whelping greyhounds | |||
| Whelping box or area for dam and litter of pups aged up to 4 weeks | A whelping box or other area used for whelping must be large enough for the dam to lie comfortably while whelping and accommodate the dam and her puppies for the first four weeks after whelping. | ||
| Whelping Greyhounds Pen (includes kennel) | For a dam and litter of puppies aged over 4 weeks. | 15 sqm | |
| Whelping greyhounds housing pen (includes kennel) | One dam and her litter of pups aged over 8 weeks require an additional 15 sqm of space. | 30 sqm |
5.13 Greyhounds must be supervised while tethered. R.
5.14 Greyhounds must not be tethered for more than two hours per day. R.
Housing greyhounds for breeding and whelping
5.15 No female greyhound which is near or in season is to be housed with a male greyhound six months of age or older that has not been desexed. R.
5.16 Where used, a whelping box must be large enough for the dam to lie comfortably while whelping and to accommodate the dam and her puppies for the first four weeks after whelping.
5.17 Whelping boxes must have sides that are high enough to allow the dam to exit readily but also prevent puppies under four weeks of age from falling out.
5.18 A pen housing a whelping greyhound must contain a fully screened bedding area to provide physical separation from other greyhounds and provide the dam with access to an area where her puppies cannot reach her.
5.19 Puppies from a litter must be actively monitored when housed together and if fighting, bullying or other adverse welfare outcomes are identified, they must be separated.
Cleanliness and hygiene
5.20 Greyhound housing areas and bedding must be maintained in a clean, hygienic and safe condition at all times. R.
5.21 Pens and kennels must be disinfected using a safe and effective disinfectant no less than four times per year, as well as:
- after an outbreak of an infectious disease R
- prior to introduction of a new greyhound R
- prior to whelping R
- upon the removal of puppies. R.
5.22 Greyhounds must be removed prior to hosing of greyhound housing areas and must not be returned until cleaning is complete and the area is dry. R.
Preventing transmission of disease
5.23 Visitors to all greyhound housing areas must be provided with access to hot and cold water hand washing facilities with soap, or hand sanitising stations.
5.24 Greyhounds diagnosed with or suspected of having an infectious disease must be separated from other dogs as soon as possible, kept isolated and cared for in a suitable area away from all other dogs at the premises. (The greyhound may need to be isolated in the care of a veterinary practice if suitable facilities cannot be provided on-site.) R.
5.25 Effective biosecurity procedures must be put in place to prevent spread of the infectious agent from isolation areas to other parts of the premises, or to other dogs or people. R.
Pest control
5.26 Safe and effective measures must be taken to control pests and vermin (including fleas, ticks, flies, mosquitoes, spiders and rodents) in greyhound housing areas. R.
5.27 Pest control chemicals must be kept in their original container and used and stored in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
5.28 Greyhounds must be removed from any areas where and while noxious pest control chemicals are being used. R.
Emergency evacuation procedures
5.29 Participants must ensure that greyhounds can be removed safely in the event of an emergency. R.
5.30 Participants must ensure that all greyhound housing areas have adequate fire protection, such as sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers, or smoke detectors. R.
Note: Participants who keep retired greyhounds are required to comply only with those Standards marked “R” in relation to those greyhounds.
Compliance with greyhound housing standards
Unless otherwise directed by the Commission, all greyhound housing areas (kennelling) will be deemed to comply with new standard 5.9 until 31 December 2030.
Those participants who:
- Are intending to leave the industry prior to 31 December 2035; or
- Have made a significant investment in greyhound housing areas after 1 January 2017 which still represent high-quality housing area amenity,
Will be able to apply to the Commission for a further extension of the ‘deemed to comply’ exemption until 31 December 2035.
All greyhound housing areas will need to be compliant with standard 5.9 from 1 January 2036.