New Homing Assistance Scheme

Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) is delighted to announce the introduction of the new Homing Assistance Scheme, which provides access to up to $950 of comprehensive vet care, for NSW participants retiring greyhounds, who have been part of the State’s greyhound racing industry.

The increases in financial support have been put in place to provide additional protection for retiring and rehomed greyhounds against infectious disease.

This new single scheme brings together the former Owner Incentive Scheme, Desex and Dental Scheme and non-participant rehoming schemes, into one easy rebate.

“Incorporating these various schemes into one single scheme, will make the process a lot simpler for all participants, as they look to the next phase of their greyhound’s life … retirement and rehoming,” GRNSW’s chief executive Tony Mestrov said.

“As I have repeatedly said, the welfare of our animals is of the highest priority to Greyhound Racing NSW and the new Homing Assistance Scheme is another step in ensuring our greyhounds are well looked after following their racing careers.”

The Homing Assistance Scheme is a 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.

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, Canine 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).

GRNSW is doubling the $50 vaccination rebate to $100 for those owners and trainers who provide a C7 vaccination for their retiring greyhounds.

The C7 vaccination course requires two (2) injections administered two (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 within two (2) weeks prior to pre-assessment if starting the C7 course for the first time. GWIC vaccination requirements for registered greyhounds do not mandate C7 and leptospirosis vaccinations but these are recommended.

If you believe 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 now 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.

And finally, all surgery comes with a level of risk, even routine procedures such as desexing and a dental scale and polish, and 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 older 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 indicate 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.

The Homing Assistance Scheme form can be found here.