Greyhounds in Victoria
This fact sheet outlines legal requirements for owners of Greyhounds in Victoria. The following information applies to owners of:
- Pet Greyhounds, including those adopted from shelters, pounds, and rescue groups;
- Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP) dogs;
- Greyhounds used for breeding;
- Greyhounds used for racing.
This fact sheet also discusses Greyhound Racing Victoria's recent declaration as an Applicable Organisation.
Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) - now an Applicable Organisation
The Victorian Minister for Agriculture and Food Security has recently declared GRV to be an 'Applicable Organisation'.
Applicable Organisations produce an annual report and have a code of ethics that requires responsible breeding and pet ownership in compliance with the Domestic Animals Act 1994 and its related codes of practice. These organisations undertake disciplinary action against members who do not comply with the organisation's code. This recognition also means that they are an organisation with high standards for managing breeding animals and of responsible pet ownership to whom the community can look to when buying a pet or when seeking advice on care of a pet.
In addition, GRV's Applicable Organisation status means members do not have to register with the local council as a breeding Domestic Animal Business, until they have 10 or more fertile female Greyhounds.
General requirements for ALL owners of Greyhounds in Victoria
Under the Domestic Animals Act 1994, all Greyhounds in Victoria must be muzzled and leashed when outside the premises of their owner (even when in council designated 'off leash' exercise areas).
In addition, a person must not walk more than four (4) Greyhounds at a time, when in a public place.
Other dog ownership laws (under the Domestic Animals Act 1994) also apply to greyhounds. This includes requirements, such as registration, microchipping, containment of dogs to the property.
Owners must register with their local council as a breeding Domestic Animal Business, if they have three or more fertile female Greyhounds (whether they make a profit or not). The exception is owners who belong to an Applicable Organisation (e.g. GRV or Dogs Victoria), who don't have to register with the local council as a breeding Domestic Animal Business unless they have 10 or more fertile female greyhounds.
You can be fined for not complying with these laws.
Special exemptions:
Some exceptions to these rules apply in the case of greyhounds that are being raced/shown/trained, greyhounds registered with GRV, and GAP greyhounds. See the following sections for details.
Greyhounds being raced, shown, or trained
Requirements to muzzle and leash Greyhounds when in public places, do NOT apply to Greyhounds being:
- Raced, coursed, exercised or trained upon land which the owner is authorised or entitled to use for that purpose; or
- Exhibited for show purposes; or
- Participating in obedience trials or classes and under the effective control of a responsible person.
Additional information for owners of Greyhounds registered with GRV
With the exception of GAP greyhounds, all greyhounds that are registered with Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) are exempt from the registration requirements under the Domestic Animals Act 1994; that is, these dogs do not have to be registered with the local council, nor do owners have to comply with any associated council registration requirements such as compulsory microchipping or desexing.
This is because these dogs are already registered with GRV (and are uniquely identifiable).
As mentioned earlier, GRV members also do not have to register with their local council as a breeding Domestic Animal Business (or comply with the associated Code of Practice) unless they have 10 or more fertile female Greyhounds.
Owners of greyhounds registered with GRV must still comply with Local Council permit requirements where the number of greyhounds they house on their property exceeds the limits for their property type and zoning.
All other requirements of the Domestic Animals Act 1994 apply, including leashing/ muzzling requirements when in public places, along with not exercising more than four dogs at a time.
In addition, members must comply with any requirements specified by GRV.
Additional information for owners of breeding Greyhounds registered with Dogs Victoria
Breeders of Greyhounds registered with Dogs Victoria do not have to register with their local council as a breeding Domestic Animal Business (or comply with the associated Code of Practice) unless they have 10 or more fertile female Greyhounds.
All other requirements of the Domestic Animals Act 1994 apply, including leashing/ muzzling requirements when in public places, along with not exercising more than four dogs at a time.
In addition, members must comply with any requirements specified by Dogs Victoria.
Additional information for owners of GAP dogs
Dogs that have passed through Greyhound Racing Victoria's Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP), do not need to be muzzled in public places. These dogs have been temperament tested and socialised prior to being made available for adoption. They are identifiable by their individually numbered, green GAP collar.
Note that all other legal requirements, such as registration with the local council in which they reside, still apply to GAP dogs and they must always be on leash when in public places.
Note: The muzzling exemption does NOT apply to greyhounds adopted under other greyhound re-homing schemes, or to those greyhounds adopted from shelters or pounds.
For general advice or information:
For more information on responsible pet ownership call the Customer Service Centre on 136 186 (For the cost of a local call).
Call your local council if you have questions about your rights and responsibilities as a dog owner.
The Domestic Animals Act 1994 is State legislation, which is implemented by municipal councils.
The Domestic Animals Act 1994 and the Domestic Animals Regulations 2005 are available online at www.dpi.vic.gov.au/animalwelfare or hard copies (at a cost) from Information Victoria, 505 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, phone 1300 366 356.
Contact Greyhound Racing Victoria:
46-50 Chetwynd Street, West Melbourne, Victoria, 3003
Phone: (03) 8329 1100, Email: admin@grv.org.au, web: www.grv.org.au
Contact Greyhound Adoption Program:
298 Goulburn Valley Hwy, Seymour, VIC 3661, Postal Address: PO Box 785, Seymour, VIC 3661
Phone: (03) 5799 0166
Email: gap@grv.org.au,
web: http://gap.grv.org.au/
