Greyhounds as Pets SA plans rehoming facility, vet clinic in Murray Bridge
The benevolent arm of Greyhound Racing South Australia has announced its intention to help more ex-racing dogs prepare for life as household pets.
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Welfare organisation Greyhounds as Pets SA has revealed plans for a rehoming facility and veterinary clinic in Murray Bridge.
The facility on the city’s east side, next to Murray Bridge Greyhound Racing Club, would include up to 100 kennels for dogs transitioning out of the racing industry and into life as family pets.
It would also have space for a commercially operated veterinary clinic.
The facility would employ about 15 staff and be open seven days per week.
Far from being daunted by a recent inquiry into the industry, chairman Grantley Stevens suggested Greyhound Racing SA was looking forward.
“We have the best rehoming percentage in Australia, and we’re proud of that,” he told Murray Bridge councillors this month.
“We see this as a key feature of our success.”
The rehoming facility was originally proposed back in 2016 as part of the racetrack development, which was completed in 2018.
GAP SA opened a smaller-scale dog training facility inside Mobilong Prison, where inmates can help dogs with their rehabilitation, around the same time.
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Mr Stevens hoped the new facility would be open within 18 months.
“This is something that we need to do,” he said.
“It is going to bring our industry forward.”
He rejected Cr Tom Haig’s suggestion that greyhound racing had an “image problem”, and that most locals wanted to see greyhound racing banned.
That was only a minority view, he said – though he acknowledged that community support was vital to the sport’s continued operation.
“Transparency as far as training, rehoming, veterinary care – this site … can do all those three things,” he said.
“People can actually see the dogs and be with the dogs and pat them, and potentially train dogs as well.
“I know there’s a lot of naysayers out there, but that’s with all industries, not just greyhounds.”
The greyhound racing industry generated $110 million in revenue in 2022-23 and supported 730 jobs, according to Mr Stevens.
GRSA redirected about $2 million per year into GAP SA.
- More information: gapsa.org.au.
