New South Wales
Under section 15 of the Companion Animals Act 1998, greyhounds have to be muzzled while in a public place. However, the Companion Animals Amendment (Greyhound Muzzling Exemption) Regulation 2011 provides an exemption for greyhounds that have successfully completed a greyhound re-training program, which has been approved by the Chief Executive of the Division of Local Government, by order published in the NSW Government Gazette (Companion Animals Regulation 2008, 33B).
View the Companion Animals Act HERE.
View the announcement of the exemption to councils HERE.
In 2011 Greenhounds was authorized to manage and issue exemptions (identifiable by green collars) under the Companion Animal Regulations under clause 33B (1) (a) of the Comanion Animals Regulation (NSW Government Gazette No 132 of 23 December 2011, pp.7364-5).
View the relevant issue of the Government Gazette HERE.
Pet greyhound owners can contact Greenhounds to enrol their dog in an in-home re-training program. This is a self-guided course designed to help prepare the greyhound for assessment. Unlike the procedures in some other states, it is not a requirement that the greyhound is kennelled away from home at any time. This is an in-home re-training program. There is an assessment fee and if successful a $49.50 fee for the green collar and associated administration costs.
Greenhounds explain on their website that the assessor will use the Greyhound Adoption Programme National Temperament Test (GAPNTT) to assess the dog. The focus of this test is safety and socialisation in public. For this reason the assessment will not be carried out at home. Greyhounds will also be tested without the owner’s presence (approximately 90 minutes).
The test is designed to identify that the dog is:- - Friendly, approachable and manageable.
- - Shows no aggression towards other dogs (particulary small ones).
- - Shows no aggression towards humans (particulary in the presence of food and toys etc.)
Owners will be advised immediately of the outcome of the test. If the dog is NOT found to be suitable, the assessor will give the owner feedback as to the reasons the dog was unsuccessful, advice on how to overcome the issues and when it might be appropriate to re-book an assessment.