Greyhound Racing Is Now Illegal In NSW And There’s Never Been A Better Time To Adopt A Dog

Mike Baird finally did something good! Last night the NSW Parliament passed legislation to outlaw greyhound racing, despite opposition from the Labor party and some Nationals MPs. The ban will take effect from next year. Anyone found to be racing a greyhound will be liable for fines of up to $11,000 and a year in jail.

It’s great news for greyhounds who will no longer be bred for the explicit purpose of being raced. A report commissioned by the NSW government found that up to 64,000 greyhounds have been killed in the state over the past 12 years. The report also found the practice of live-baiting, where live animals were used as lures for racing dogs, was widespread in the industry.

The NSW Labor leader, Luke Foley, declared that Mike Baird was “Breaking the hearts of thousands of good men and women across this state.” In the lead up to the vote there were reports that Labor MPs Jo Haylen and Trish Doyle might buck their party’s policy and support the ban.

But despite hinting that they might vote for the ban, in the end they joined the rest of the Labor party and voted against it. Labor’s position means that it’s unlikely the greyhound racing ban will extend to states like Queensland and Victoria, which currently have Labor governments. The challenge now for greyhound lovers is re-homing thousands of former racing dogs.

Because of their association with racing there are a number of misconceptions about what kind of pets greyhounds make. According to animal welfare organisation Voiceless, greyhounds aren’t obsessed with racing – they’ve just been forced to do it. All you need to do to keep a greyhound fit and active is take it on a short daily walk, just like any other dog.

There are a number of greyhound adoption agencies out there and plenty of gorgeous dogs keen for a loving new home. We’ve picked just a few to help convince you that it’s time to adopt a greyhound.

There’s Lilly, a gorgeous five-year old.

Or Buddy. He loves his toys.

There’s JK. He’s my favourite. He’s named after the late John Kaye, a NSW Greens MP who led the fight to end greyhound racing.

And finally there’s Peggy Sue. She loves snacking.

Those are just four of the beautiful greyhounds up for adoption in NSW. After successfully pushing to outlaw greyhound racing in one state, the Greens are now calling for a federal ban on greyhound racing. So there could be even more beaut doggies up for adoption soon. Get in quick!

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You can find a list of greyhound adoption agencies here.