A new initiative which will ultimately see NSW with the highest quality welfare programs in the country, will be introduced by Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) next week.
The Greyhound Welfare Scheme will ensure an even greater focus on welfare initiatives and allow GRNSW to provide a sustainable model for funding all the industry welfare programs.
The flow on effects of the Scheme will also see an increase in pet placement opportunities and subsequently lead to increases in prizemoney levels.
The Scheme is expected to generate more than $1.6 million in its first year of operation.
“This will be the first initiative introduced as a result of the collaboration with key stakeholders at the Industry Future Summit held in May,” GRNSW Chief Executive Officer Steve Griffin said.
“While the process is underway for Racing Footprint Optimisation, the Greyhound Welfare Scheme will commence on August 1 and as such will be the inaugural initiative in place from the Industry Future Blueprint, a strategy devised through collaboration at the Summit and released earlier this month.
“This Welfare Scheme allows us to build a sustainable model for funding all welfare programs including Greyhounds As Pets, and our successful Greyhound Care Scheme (GCS) and Homing Assistance Scheme (HAS), which in turn enables a greater focus on all welfare initiatives.
“The flow effects from this will see the industry in NSW with the highest quality welfare programs in the country, increases in our pet placement levels and subsequently see increases in prizemoney.”
The funds for the Scheme will be derived from one per cent of all prizemoney in NSW, with Group feature events - including the GRNSW features without Group status such as the Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase, the Ladbrokes 715, the Ladbrokes Country Classic and the Ladbrokes Thunderbolt – each contributing two per cent.
Funds previously distributed for C5 vaccinations, heartworm preventative medication and heartworm tests, will now be redirected into the Welfare Scheme. Participants must of course still ensure that all vaccinations and heartworm treatment are up to date.
GRNSW’s HAS will continue to provide funds towards desexing, dental care procedures for greyhounds and also pre-anesthetic blood testing for those aged seven years or older.
“In April, GRNSW conducted a comparative review of national schemes, identifying variations in coverage, and a proposal to refine HAS to focus solely on desexing and dental procedures was presented at the Summit,” Mr Griffin said. “This will see around $500,000 redirected annually to the Welfare Scheme.
“Additionally Licensing Fees from the soon to be introduced Pet Prep Franchises and the proceeds from a new lottery initiative, will make up the total for the Welfare Scheme.
“With these contributions we expect around $1.6 million for the Scheme during FY25-26, and we believe this figure will continue to increase in coming years, which will substantially help to ease the financial burden of pet placement.”
In 2022, the NSW thoroughbred industry created a similar fund, the Equine Welfare Fund, which is primarily funded by a 1.5% deduction from all prizemoney in NSW.
