Greyhound Rehoming Policy
All NSW registered owners are obliged to comply with the Greyhound Rehoming Policy, even if their greyhound resides at a kennel with a trainer or is trained inter-state (including New Zealand). The Policy also applies to participants who are registered in other states and are operating in NSW.
The purpose of the Policy is to encourage rehoming of retired greyhounds and reduce unnecessary euthanasia. The policy outlines the steps that owners are required to make when rehoming their greyhound and is enforced by the Greyhound Welfare & Integrity Commission.
View the Greyhound Rehoming Policy on the GWIC website.
Owners that are rehoming a greyhound to a person or organisation not registered with the Commission are required to desex the greyhound before being rehomed. Owners can access financial assistance through GRNSW’s Homing Assistance Scheme to help with the costs of desexing, dental and booster vaccinations. More information on the scheme can be found here.
Greyhound owners are required to prepare their greyhounds for rehoming, and make genuine attempts to rehome any greyhound that they do not wish to retain. If an owner is unable to rehome the greyhound privately, they must first seek the greyhound’s admission to the Greyhounds As Pets (GAP) program.
If the greyhound is not admitted to the GAP Program, the owner must then:
- seek to rehome the greyhound through at least one other pet rescue or re-homing organisation; or
- seek the greyhound’s admission to the GAP program a second time.
These minimum rehoming requirements do not apply once a greyhound has been rehomed, or if the greyhound has been declared a dangerous or menacing dog under the Companion Animals Act 1998.
Where a greyhound owner is unable to rehome a greyhound and intends to have the greyhound euthanased, the owner must notify GWIC of their intention to euthanase the greyhound by lodging a completed Notification Form – Intent to Euthanase Greyhound at least 10 business days before the greyhound is euthanased.
