Some Nsw Greyhounds To Go Muzzle Free

[k9angel]

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/10872104/some-nsw-greyhounds-to-go-muzzle-free/

Greyhounds will no be longer look like the Hannibal Lecters of the canine community under a NSW program to let them ditch their muzzles.

Retired greyhounds have been forced to cover up in public for 84 years, reinforcing the belief they're a dangerous breed.

"It's no different from us wearing glasses or sunglasses ... but if you make someone look like Hannibal Lecter, it creates that fear and that's what we're trying to overcome," Greyhound Racing NSW'sTony O'Mara said.

Former racing greyhounds will be allowed to roam muzzle-free under a new program launched by NSW's Minister for Local Government Don Page on Tuesday.

Retirees will be exempt from existing muzzling laws if they pass an approved "greenhounds" retraining program and behavioural test.

They must also be desexed, microchipped and registered on the Companion Animals Register for life.

Approved greyhounds will be identified with a special green collar.

Mr O'Mara says the initiative will help combat the common perception that the racing dog is a vicious breed and not family-friendly.

"There's a lot of myths about the dogs and ... this is about having a brand that allows us to promote the greyhound as a dog distinct from its racing," he said.

"(The program is) an important part of transitioning the dog from being a racing greyhound, or an athlete, to being a family pet."

Mr O'Mara says he expects a four-fold increase in the number of retired greyhounds adopted by pet owners, based on figures from Victoria, Queensland and South Australia - all of which already have relaxed muzzling laws.

Mr Page, himself the owner of a cross-breed greyhound, says the program is a "win-win situation" for both the racing industry and pet owners.

The restrictions under the existing Companion Animals Act were outdated and "ridiculous" and needed to be changed, he said.

"It means that all those greyhounds that previously were not going to be adopted by families, and possibly put down as a result, will now be adopted by loving families," he told AAP.

"I love my dogs, so (there's) every chance we'll be adopting another one."

Owners wishing to have their dogs exempt from the laws will have to pay $49.50 for a "greenhounds" collar, as well as the cost of an assessment.

[sandgrubber]

Great news! In my boarding kennel experience, greyhounds are placid sweeties, though some of them are -- and many of them are not --- deeply engrained with an 'get the rabbit' mentality which, in some scenarios, endanger cats and SWF's. With intelligent management, I think even the 'bad' greyhounds who have pretty high visual-stimulus high prey drive, fit into the 'harmless' category.

Muzzles are a drag, and I'd say racing greyhounds are near the bottom of the list of social danger concerns. It's nice to see the law lightening up a bit on their management.

Edited October 25, 2011 by sandgrubber