(QLD) Greyhounds muzzle-free after law change

Local laws will be relaxed to allow some greyhounds to be unmuzzled while on a leash.

Townsville City Council has supported a local Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP) in their bid to have the local laws eased.

GAP co-ordinator Ruth Askey-Doran said the move was a positive step towards showcasing the dogs as the “remarkable and gentle” breed they were.

“I think people are put off by the muzzle,” Ms Askey-Doran said.

“People aren’t stupid, they think because if a dog is muzzled they think it’s for a good reason, but the greyhound has had to be muzzled because of local laws regardless of it’s temperament. Now we can get past that misconception and show the breed as the remarkable, gentle breed that they are.”

Community Safety Committee chairwoman Councillor Jenny Hill said the council supported the move.

“This is about greyhounds that are no longer required for racing,” Cr Hill said.

“They have to go through a pre-adoption phase to make sure they are suitable. The dogs must be desexed and proven to be suitable as a pet.”

Cr Hill said the council would form a sub-ordinate local law so the animals were allowed as a domestic pet.

“They will be required to be muzzled when they are in an off-leash area but they can be walked by a responsible person un-muzzled,” she said.

“They’ve set up an adoption contract so whoever adopts the greyhound will know what their responsibility is with that dog. They also have a pre-adoption behavioural assessment program to make sure the dog is fairly relaxed in the family and urban environment.”

GAP is a not for profit program run by volunteers who find long-term homes for ex-racing greyhounds.

Reference: www.greyhoundpets.org.au

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