In early 2023, we asked for your help to support an automated whole-of-life tracking system for greyhounds. We called it "GREYS EXPLOITED: Stop illegal exports"
The Issue:
In 2021, Canya Cruise, Turbo Thomas and Deliver were sent un-desexed to China, without the industry knowing. Listed as 'retired' they were found offshore by greyhound advocacy groups in a new, illegal racing industry - breeding for profit. Since then, Aston Gigante and Aston Lee were both illegally exported for the same reason despite having current listings as 'racing' in Australia.
No tracking of greyhounds means countless puppies and dogs are missing and not even the industry knows their whereabouts. Instead, they report inflated figures and misrepresent the rehoming rate of retired dogs - and they're getting away with it.
The Petition:
We, the undersigned fully support an automated whole of life tracking system for greyhounds.
Through lack of tracking and oversight, Victoria is growing the illegal Chinese greyhound industry.
In the past three years, greyhound advocacy groups have discovered the illegal export, racing and breeding of Australian dogs that the industry claimed had retired or were still racing on-shore.
Canya Cruise, Turbo Thomas, Deliver, Aston Lee and Aston Gigante should have been rehomed here in Victoria. But there is no cap on breeding and the industry knows it's in the peak of a rehoming crisis.
In Victoria, the greyhound industry currently breeds almost 4 times as many dogs as it has the capacity to rehome. Greyhounds who are still considered suitable and profitable are even being given away free on social media for trainers to make way for more and more puppies.
The industry’s own rehoming program (GAP) has a waitlist to take dogs in that has just increased from 6 months to 9 months. This means dogs wait longer with their trainers, race longer than they were planned, or die secretly in the interest of greed.
In an Australian first, we call on the government to implement complete, whole of life tracking as the first step in protecting young, healthy greyhounds from unnecessary suffering.
The Motion:
The Win:
Thank you! In March, we’ve won a digital whole of life tracking system for all greyhounds in Victoria.
A first of its kind in Australia - we will finally uncover accurate data, including how many puppies are truly born each year. It’s not perfect, but while we continue to fight against the inherent cruelty of greyhound racing, this is still an important win.