The Greyhounds as Pets program is on track to place more retired racing dogs in forever homes this financial year than in 2023/24, according to Tasracing.
With two months remaining in the financial year, the adoption program has already found homes for 77 greyhounds, just six short of last year’s total of 83.
Tasracing CEO Andrew Jenkins expects adoption numbers to climb further following the annual Agfest show this week.
“We generally get a spike of interest in greyhound adoption after Agfest,” Jenkins said.
“And the Agfest interest is easy to understand why when you combine three to four greyhounds available in our Agfest tent for 60,000 people over three days to meet and pat.”
The announcement comes as national Greyhound Adoption month draws to a close, highlighting efforts to promote retired racing greyhounds as family pets.
“We want the community to understand just how gentle and affectionate these dogs really are as pets,” Jenkins said.
“Finding a greyhound a suitable home for life after they have retired from racing is our ongoing focus.”
A $2.8 million expansion at the program’s Mangalore facility is scheduled for completion in July, significantly increasing kennel capacity and improving operations.
The news comes as thousands sign a formal parliamentary petition to put an end to greyhound racing in Tasmania.
The petition was tabled in the Legislative Council by Greens MLC Cassy O’Connor earlier this month.
It calls on the government to follow New Zealand’s lead and introduce a ban on the sport.
The petition also urges the government to support industry workers during the transition and provide funding to not-for-profit animal welfare groups to help rehome retired racing greyhounds.
“We’ll keep advocating and pushing for an end to greyhound racing in Tasmania until it happens and it will happen,” O’Connor said.
