Greyhound lifecycle management information Information management is inextricably GRV does not routinely publish greyhound linked to accountability and effective welfare statistics and there are particular oversight. A comprehensive information information gaps relating to whole of life management system which captures information. In 2013 GRV introduced fines important industry data will be essential to for failing to lodge retirement notifications, informing animal welfare compliance and and enforcement strategies and determining in 2014 GRV began to chase-up their efficacy. retirement outcomes for unnamed greyhounds. Interviews with key greyhound industry stakeholders identified a number of issues As of April 2015, GRV report they have relating to data collection, analysis, and retirement outcomes for 70% for all use. There is currently a poor greyhounds, named and unnamed owned understanding of the numbers of by Victorian registered owners. While the greyhounds active in Review notes GRV is unable to chase-up the industry, how they are cared for at retirement notifications from owners different stages in their lifecycle, and registered with interstate Controlling Bodies what becomes of them after they retire and unregistered owners, it questions from racing. Stakeholders identified the whether the penalties need for cross-agency access to a ‘live’ for failure to lodge retirement notifications database of GRV-registered greyhounds, are sufficient9. That GRV does not know improved data collection, a what becomes of 30% of Victorian comprehensive case management greyhounds is inadequate, and GRV (and system, better analysis other Controlling Bodies) must implement of racetrack and trial injuries, access to improved lifecycle tracking and retirement intelligence across agencies, behavioural reporting. research into industry attitudes towards animal welfare and improved public Particular problems arise when Victorian reporting. greyhounds are transferred to other states. As Victoria hosts a significant proportion of Lack of agency coordination can the highest and most lucrative racing explain a lack of data to a certain grades, owners frequently move their extent, but this greyhounds to interstate Review finds that even against a jurisdictions fragmented welfare landscape, GRV has with graded racing events that permit a failed to implement systems and data greater chance of winning. GRV collection vital to industry and animal currently has no mechanism for welfare oversight. understanding what happens to these Significant changes to data collection, greyhounds once they are transferred case management and information interstate. sharing are required to ensure information is transparent and available International export statistics of Victorian to the GRV board, industry members greyhounds are also difficult to come by. and the public.
management Information management is inextricably linked to accountability and effective oversight. A comprehensive information management system which captures important industry data will be essential to informing animal welfare compliance and enforcement strategies and determining their efficacy. Interviews with key greyhound industry stakeholders identified a number of issues relating to data collection, analysis, and use. There is currently a poor understanding of the numbers of greyhounds active in the industry, how they are cared for at different stages in their lifecycle, and what becomes of them after they retire from racing. Stakeholders identified the need for cross-agency access to a ‘live’ database of GRV-registered greyhounds, improved data collection, a comprehensive case management system, better analysis of racetrack and trial injuries, access to intelligence across agencies, behavioural research into industry attitudes towards animal welfare and improved public reporting. Lack of agency coordination can explain a lack of data to a certain extent, but this Review finds that even against a fragmented welfare landscape, GRV has failed to implement systems and data collection vital to industry and animal welfare oversight. Significant changes to data collection, case management and information sharing are required to ensure information is transparent and available to the GRV board, industry members and the public. Greyhound lifecycle information GRV does not routinely publish greyhound welfare statistics and there are particular information gaps relating to whole of life information. In 2013 GRV introduced fines for failing to lodge retirement notifications, and in 2014 GRV began to chase-up retirement outcomes for unnamed greyhounds. As of April 2015, GRV report they have retirement outcomes for 70% for all greyhounds, named and unnamed owned by Victorian registered owners. While the Review notes GRV is unable to chase-up retirement notifications from owners registered with interstate Controlling Bodies and unregistered owners, it questions whether the penalties for failure to lodge retirement notifications are sufficient9. That GRV does not know what becomes of 30% of Victorian greyhounds is inadequate, and GRV (and other Controlling Bodies) must implement improved lifecycle tracking and retirement reporting. Particular problems arise when Victorian greyhounds are transferred to other states. As Victoria hosts a significant proportion of the highest and most lucrative racing grades, owners frequently move their greyhounds to interstate jurisdictions with graded racing events that permit a greater chance of winning. GRV currently has no mechanism for understanding what happens to these greyhounds once they are transferred interstate. International export statistics of Victorian greyhounds are also difficult to come by.
GreyhoundReport_final_12Nov2015_v9.docx