The Victorian Government has just released the Greyhound Code of Practice for the Keeping of Racing Greyhounds for public consultation.
WHEN FINAL, THIS IS A CRITICAL, ENFORCEABLE DOCUMENT THAT WILL REGULATE HOW RACING (AND YOUNGER) GREYHOUNDS MUST BE KEPT. But its scope is MUCH broader than mere keeping - from required staffing of properties on which greyhounds are kept, to housing requirements (including kennel / run size and construction), to transport requirements, to record keeping, to health care, to feeding, to breeding, to re-homing, to how greyhounds are transferred, and more.
It is truly vital that as many participants as possible consider it, and make submissions where possible. Once final, the Code will be very difficult to change.
GOTBA Vic will be considering the consultation draft in detail, and will make available draft submissions for input of members in the next few weeks, prior to making a final submission before the final submission date of 14 August 2017.
We implore our members to do the following:
1. Go to http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/pets/dogs/greyhounds/code-of-practice , and read the draft code of practice in detail.
2. Go to http://www.grv.org.au/news/2017/06/14/victorian-governments-proposed-greyhound-code-practice/ and read GRV's press release. If you consider it helpful, take up GRV's offer of an individual 45 minute session if it may assist you to consider the draft code.
3. Consider how the code of practice might practically affect you. Do you disagree or agree with certain parts of it? Why / why not? Will it require you to spend significant sums of money to comply with it?
4. Prepare a submission on those issues, or alternatively send us an email at gotbav@gmail.com outlining your concerns, using an email heading of "Greyhound Code of Practice: [your name]".
5. In due course, read GOTBA Vic's draft submissions on this website. Give us feedback on them.
6. If you wish, make submissions yourself ON OR BEFORE 14 August 2017 - see instructions at http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/pets/dogs/greyhounds/code-of-practice.
In this regard, participants must recognise that those opposed to the sport of greyhound racing as a matter of principle may use this opportunity to make submissions to Government that are adverse to the industry, wrong or both.
It really is imperative that we have as many considered submissions from participants as possible AND that we do everything in our power towards obtaining a final Code of Practice that fairly balances the welfare of the racing greyhound and the interests of participants and the industry.
