NSW Local Government Minister Don Page has launched a program to re-train former racing greyhounds so they can become family pets, free of their muzzles.

Called “Greenhounds”, the program has been established to re-train retired greyhounds to ensure they have the behavioural and social skills required to live in households.

Mr Page said the program would involve recruiting and authorising greyhound re-trainers to conduct behaviour lessons, setting out training criteria for approved re-trainers to follow, a new website outlining the details of Greenhounds, and procedural and administrative support for the program from the body behind the concept, Greyhound Racing NSW.

“The Companion Animals Act – in my Local Government portfolio – requires greyhounds to be muzzled in public, and that has been identified by greyhound admirers and those involved in animal welfare as unfairly stereotyping the breed as dangerous,” Mr Page said.

“The concern is that this inaccurate perception acts as a disincentive for families to adopt this gentle and intelligent breed as a pet, especially after a dog’s racing career is over.

“To address that, the Act has been amended to exempt retired greyhounds from muzzling, bringing NSW laws into line with those in Queensland, South Australia and Victoria.”

Mr Page said exempt greyhounds must be de-sexed, must complete a re-training program approved by the Division of Local Government and conducted by a trainer authorised by the Division, and must be evaluated by a behavioural assessor at the end of their training.

Greyhound Racing NSW will make recommendations to the Division on suitable re-training program applicants, will train, authorise and arrange behavioural assessors, will issue the distinctive green collars containing a microchip that re-trained greyhounds must wear to be muzzle-free, and will operate www.greenhounds.com.au to explain details of the program.

“The green collars must be on exempt greyhounds at all times or the animal could lose its exemption, and during re-training the owners of ‘Greenhounds-in-waiting’ will be encouraged to keep them on a leash when in public,” Mr Page said.

“While this move should change the stereotype of greyhounds, the public’s safety remains the key priority. As such, any re-trained greyhound which attacks an animal or a person will be dealt with by councils in the same way as any other non-restricted breed of dog.

“I have no doubt this program will encourage more people to choose greyhounds as pets.”