Homing Assistance Scheme

The Homing Assistance Scheme is a financial rebate scheme for NSW industry participants who have retired their greyhounds and are preparing them for life as pets in their own home, with friends or family or through Greyhounds As Pets NSW and other approved rehoming organisations. This new single scheme brings together the former Owner Incentive Scheme, Desex and Dental Scheme and non-participant rehoming schemes into one easy rebate. Previously the Greyhounds As Pets Owner Incentive Scheme covered up to $450 for desexing, $200 for a dental check-up and $50 for booster vaccinations, a C5 or equivalent. This was to ensure your greyhound starts its life as a household pet with a clean bill of health.

If your greyhound was registered for racing with GWIC, you would have provided an initial C3 and/or C5 vaccine (depending on your greyhound’s age). A C7 vaccine which provides coverage against Canine Parvovirus, Canine Distemper, Canine Infectious Hepatitis, Coronavirus, Leptospirosis and two strains of what is commonly called kennel cough can be given. This C7 vaccine is usually required for any dog to be entered into a commercial boarding facility and provides your greyhound with extra protection against common infectious diseases that are endemic in the dog population in Australia (both racing and companion animals).

Recently, states on the Eastern seaboard have witnessed an increase in cases of Canine Coronavirus (this is not related to human corona virus/COVID-19) making this a timely addition to the scheme. Infected dogs will have symptoms that include vomiting and diarrhoea and vaccination reduces not only spread of this disease, but severity of symptoms too. GWIC have released information and guidance on their website around the disease – Canine Coronavirus Factsheet.

Prevention is the best cure – GRNSW understands that treating and undertaking effective quarantine of those greyhounds with an infectious disease and controlling the spread in a facility with multiple greyhounds can be difficult. It is also imperative that pet greyhounds are protected and not inadvertently spreading the disease to other dog populations. That is why, GRNSW is doubling the $50 vaccination rebate to $100 for those owners and trainers who provide a C7 vaccination for their retiring greyhounds. Please be aware that there has also been an increase in cases of leptospirosis in the Sydney region over the last year, so if your greyhound will be rehomed in metropolitan regions, it is highly recommended that you give your retired greyhound a C7 vaccination for the purpose of covering this disease too. The C7 vaccination course requires 2 injections administered 2 weeks apart. C7 vaccination will also now be required for GAP pre-assessment and entry into the program’s facilities ongoing, with the first injection completed at least 2 weeks prior to pre-assessment and no more than 4 weeks before, if starting the C7 course for the first time. GWIC vaccination requirements for registered greyhounds do not mandate C7 but are recommended due to the ongoing risk of Canine Coronavirus and Leptospirosis, see – Puppy Vaccinations.

If you think your greyhound may not have been covered with the appropriate heartworm preventative continuously throughout its life, it is important to get your vet to undertake a heartworm SNAP test to then be able to administer the correct preventative or required heartworm treatment. GRNSW is therefore also adding $100 for owners wishing to undertake a SNAP heartworm test accompanied by the appropriate heartworm prevention/treatment for eligible retiring greyhounds under this new Homing Assistance Scheme.

All surgery comes with a level of risk, even routine procedures such as desexing and a dental scale and polish. However, this risk can be higher in greyhounds 7 years of age and older as the chance of health issues such as impaired kidney and liver function and other underlying conditions increase with age in dogs, the same as they do in humans. We believe it is particularly important to get a clear understanding and reduce the risk of anaesthesia in senior greyhounds by undertaking a pre-anaesthesia blood test before desexing. This is why the Homing Assistance Scheme will now also cover up to $100 for a comprehensive pre-anaesthetic blood test for senior greyhounds. If blood work indicates that a greyhound’s status precludes it from safely undergoing surgical procedures under anaesthesia, you will still be eligible for a rebate for the blood test.