Stop SA greyhounds racing in extreme heat

Greyhound Racing SA violates heat policy and forces greyhounds to race in extreme temperatures.

Greyhounds race at up to 65km an hour, expending an enormous amount of energy. This increases their core body temperature due to the heat generated by working muscles. This eventually leads to fatigue. The risk of heat stress is dramatically increased when the air temperature is high.

Repeated exposure to high temperatures can predispose greyhounds to organ damage, reduced exercise tolerance and respiratory problems. Prolonged or untreated heat stress can lead to dehydration, collapse and death.


On 10 March at Mt Gambier, greyhounds were forced to race in temperatures that reached up to 39.2C.

This was in direct contravention of the GRSA heat policy. The Bureau of Meteorology had also issued a three day heatwave warning for South Australia commencing 9 March. This included a “Severe Heatwave” warning for the Lower South East area including Mt Gambier.

There is no mandatory requirement for trailers used for transporting greyhounds to be air-conditioned. This means that greyhounds are arriving at racetracks already suffering from heat stress.

In December 2023, the SA government gave the greyhound racing industry two years to improve its animal welfare and integrity standards, or it will be banned. Already the industry is proving itself incapable of reform or adhering to it own animal welfare policies.

 

Please join us in calling on the SA government to:

  • Cancel all greyhound races and greyhound events scheduled for those days where a BOM heatwave warning is in place, example below.
  • Implement mandatory air-conditioning in all trailers used to transport greyhounds.
  • Monitor compliance by GRSA with all aspects of the heat policy.
  • Establish penalties sufficient to ensure that GRSA, SA greyhound racing clubs, and SA industry participants adhere to all aspects of the GRSA heat policy including the additional regulations above.

Severe Heatwave Warning for Lower South East including Mt Gambier from Saturday 9 March to Monday 11 March 2024 – Bureau of Meteorology 

 

SAVE SA GREYHOUNDS FROM RACING IN HEATWAVE CONDITIONS
You can use our email template, but the most persuasive emails will also include your own words.

  • Use the email template below. This email will be sent to the South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas MP, Deputy Premier Susan Close MP, and Racing Minister Katrine Hildyard MP. Remember to edit with your own words.
  • Write your own email. A direct email can often have more impact. Please send an email using your own words directly to those responsible for greyhound welfare in SA:
    [email protected]
    [email protected]
    [email protected]