Jane Howlett,Minister for Racing
The Tasmanian Government is committed to improving animal welfare across all three codes of the State’s racing industry.
Today I was delighted to see first-hand the important work Tasmania’s Greyhound Adoption Program is doing at the new GAP facility in Mangalore.
The Greyhound Adoption program has been inundated with inquiries and applications to adopt or foster greyhounds during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the program receiving 47 applications to adopt and 23 applications to foster last month.
In a testament to the work being done by the dedicated GAP team, eighteen greyhounds found their new forever homes, almost double the monthly average with Tasacing well on its way to achieving its goal of re-homing more than 150 greyhounds annually.
Tasracing’s first owned and operated greyhound rehoming facility allows the public direct access to better demonstrate to the community the suitability of greyhounds as pets and has allowed Tasracing to increase capacity for GAP greyhounds while providing an emergency shelter option.
New welfare rules introduced by Tasracing in March around the retirement of greyhounds provide stronger control around euthanasia and ensure that the responsibility for the health and welfare of the dogs sits firmly with the industry.
As Minister for Racing, I will continue to advocate for animal welfare across all three codes of racing and I congratulate all those who worked together to make the GAP facility at Mangalore possible.
