A review of the Greyhounds Australasia Rules (GARs) and policies occurs twice annually, with any recommendations, where deemed appropriate, adopted by the GA Board.
The application of GARs and policies provides for greater uniformity throughout Australia and New Zealand and minimises the need for local rules. In this regard, the integrity of greyhound racing is dependent on GARs to ensure consistency for participants and Controlling Bodies.
Accordingly, Greyhounds Australasia (GA) today announced amendments to the Greyhounds Australasia Rules (GARs) effective from 1 July 2015.
The most significant amendments are those being implemented as part of the National Greyhound Welfare Strategy. Those amendments include;
R115 (2) Registration/naming
- The vaccination required at time of naming will increase to C5
R127 Registration of sire and breeding female (brood bitch)
- A bitch shall not be used for breeding purposes unless registered as a ‘breeding female’. To be eligible to be registered as a breeding female, the requirements include a DNA analysis confirming parentage and a current C5 vaccination.
- A breeding female shall not be mated if she is over 8 years of age without prior written approval of the Controlling Body.
- A breeding female cannot be used for breeding more than 3 litters without prior written approval of the Controlling Body.
- The owner of a breeding female, or the person with authority to breed that female, shall not cause her to whelp more than 2 litters in any 18 month period.
R137 (1)(b) Registration of litter
- The vaccination required at time of naming will increase to C5
A full list of the rule amendments to be implemented on 1 July 2015 are listed below;
R14 (5) Powers of Controlling Body and official of Controlling Body
(5) A member of the Controlling Body so authorised by the Controlling Body-
(a) shall at any time be entitled to inspect any document or other item found upon the premises of any club.
(b) shall at any time be entitled to demand the name and address of any person found there.
(c) who has reason to believe that any matter relating to greyhound racing is occurring on any premises shall at any time be entitled as to enter upon the premises and to inspect any greyhound found there and to demand the name and address of any person found there.
R60 (3) Timing of races
(3) Where electronic timing is not used 0.07 of a second shall be deemed to be the equivalent of one (1) body length of a greyhound.
R75 Matter affecting performance to be reported
(1) The trainer or authorised person of a greyhound shall report to the Stewards as soon as practicable anything that might have affected the running of a greyhound in an Event which was not noted by Stewards during or immediately after the Event.
(2) Should anything that might have a bearing on the past or future running of a greyhound come to the notice of the trainer or authorised person after the greyhound has left the course, it shall be reported to the Stewards as soon as practicable.
R77A Unraced for more than 6 Months
(1) A greyhound which has not competed in an event for a period in excess of 6 months will be ineligible to be nominated for an event until is passes an approved veterinary examination and completes a Satisfactory Trial in the presence of an official of the Controlling Body.
R83 Greyhound to be free of prohibited substances
(1)
(b) aids, abets, counsels or procures any person to administer a prohibited substance to a greyhound
(1A) A person who-
(a) administers, attempts to administer or causes to be administers a prohibited substance to a greyhound;
(b) aids, abets, counsels or procures any person to administer a prohibited substance to a greyhound; or
(c) has prior knowledge of a prohibited substance being administered to a greyhound which is detected in any sample taken from such greyhound that has been presented for an Event or when subject to any other contingency provided for pursuant to these Rules, shall be guilty of an offence.
(8) Hydrocortisone (cortisol) as evidenced by the presence of free hydrocortisone at or below a mass concentration of 1000 nanograms per millilitre in a sample of urine taken from a greyhound will not breach the provisions of sub rule (1A) or (2) of this rule.
(9) 3-methoxytyramine at or below a mass concentration of 1600 nanograms per millilitre in a sample of urine taken from a greyhound will not breach the provisions of sub rule (1A) or (2) of this rule.
R84B Possession on course
(1) No person, unless he or she has obtained the permission of the Stewards, shall have in his or her possession, either on a racecourse or in any motor vehicle or trailer being used for the purpose of travelling to or from a racecourse, any prohibited substances or a syringe, needle or other instrument which could be used to administer a prohibited substance to a greyhound.
(2) The Stewards nay impose terms and conditions when giving permission under sub rule (1).
(3) A person who fails to comply with sub rule (1) or with a term or condition imposed under sub rule (2) is guilty of an offence.
(4) For the purpose of sub rule (1) possession includes control of and right of access to the prohibited substance or syringe, needle or other instrument.
R86 Offences
A person (including an official) shall be guilty of an offence if the person:-
(ae) by use of any gear, equipment, device, substance or by any other means inflict undue suffering on a greyhound; or have in his possession any gear, equipment, device, substance or any other thing capable of inflicting suffering on a greyhound.
R105 Notification of control and location of greyhound
(4)
(i) A registered person shall within 3 working days of a greyhound coming pursuant to or leaving the person’s care or custody, give notice to the Controlling Body of that occurrence.
(ii) If the greyhound has been nominiated or drawn for an Event the notice shall be forthwith and will not be accepted after the appointed scratching time of the event in question.
R106 Proper care (welfare) of greyhounds
(3) At any time after notification of the result of service pursuant to Rule 136, the last registered owner or person responsible for the greyhound at the relevant time, shall, notify the Controlling Body by lodging the prescribed form:
(a) within ten working days, if that greyhound has transferred ownership, been retired as a pet or a breeding greyhound, been transferred to an adoption program, exported, surrendered to another agency;
(b) within two working days if that greyhound has been humanely euthanased by a veterinary surgeon or deceased.
R115 (2) Registration/naming
(2) Application for registration/naming of a greyhound may be made by an owner by lodging with the Controlling Body in the state where the greyhound was whelped, a completed prescribed form together with the prescribed fee and a certificate of vaccination against parvovirus infection, hepatitis, canine distemper, parainfluenza virus and bordatella bronchiseptica (C5) acceptable to the Controlling Body.
R117 Transfer of ownership – named greyhound
(2) A person who purchases or otherwise acquires a named greyhound shall:
(a) within 10 days lodge with the Controlling Body a prescribed transfer of ownership form containing the signature of the previous registered owner together with the prescribed fee and the certificate of registration for the greyhound.
(b) If the greyhound is entered for an event the transfer of ownership shall be lodged with the controlling body forthwith and will not be accepted after the appointed scratching time for the event in question.
R119 Lease – named greyhound
(d)
(i) the lessee shall within 10 days, lodge, in dublicate, with the Controlling Body the completed registration of lease form together with the prescribed dee and the certificate of registration for the greyhound; or
(ii) if the greyhound has been nominated or drawn for an Event the notice shall be forthwith and will not be accepted after the appointed scratching time of the event in question.
R127 Registration of Sire and breeding female (brood bitch)
(6) A bitch shall not be used for breeding purposes unless registered as a ‘breeding female’.
(7) All documents and other items in relation to a breeding female shall be open for inspection by an officer of the Controlling Body in the jurisdiction in which the breeding female is domiciled.
(8) Application for registration as a breeding female may be made by the owner or authorised person by lodging with the Controlling Body in the state in which they reside –
(a) a completed prescribed form with any fee that may apply; and
(b) at the expense of the applicant, a DNA fingerprint analysis carried out by a laboratory designated by Greyhounds Australasia on a sample taken be a veterinary surgeon or other person approved by the Controlling Body; and
(c) evidence of a current vaccination status against parvovirus, hepatitis, canine distemper, parainfluenza virus and bordetella bronchiseptica (C5) issued by a veterinary surgeon identifying the greyhound by reference to its sex, colour, ear branding and/or microchip identifications and stating the next vaccination/booster due date.
(d) The period of registration will be for one (1) year from the current vaccination date pursuant to sub-rule (c).
(9) The granting of registration of a breeding female shall be conditional on the greyhound being in the control of the applicant or other person approved by the Controlling Body.
(10) The owner of a breeding female, or the person with authority to breed that female, shall not cause her to be mated if that breeding female is over eight (8) years of age without prior veterinary certification of appropriate health and fitness, and the approval of the Controlling Body in writing. The Controlling Body approval granted under this sub-rule will be to allow one (1) service/insemination only, irrespective of the result of said service/insemination. The veterinary certification must be obtained within 120 days prior to the date of the service.
(11) A breeding female cannot be used for breeding more than three (3) litters without prior veterinary certification of appropriate health and fitness for further litters, and the approval of the Controlling Body in writing. The Controlling Body approval granted under this sub-rule will be to allow one (1) additional service/insemination only, irrespective of the result of said service/insemination. The veterinary certification must be obtained within 120 days prior to the date of the additional service.
(12) The owner of a breeding female, or the person with authority to breed that female, shall not cause her to whelp more than two (2) litters in any 18 month period.
R127A (1) Identity Confirmation
Prior to any service or artificial insemination, the appropriate registered person shall, by reference to its Greyhound Breeding Identification Card, positively identify the breeding female presented to be served or inseminated. The appropriate registered person shall also, prior to any service or artificial insemination, confirm that the breeding female is currently eligible for breeding. Should there be any doubt over the identity of the breeding female or her eligibility for breeding, the person carrying out the identity examination shall, forthwith, inform the Controlling Body of the doubt and ensure that the breeding female is not served or inseminated until the doubt has been resolved.
R136 (3) Result of Service
(3) Except with the prior consent of the Controlling Body, a litter of pups shall not be divided or relocated from the address of whelping until such time as they have been ear branded, microchipped and vaccinated in accordance with these Rules, and further until a period of 14 days has elapsed from the date of the last vaccination pursuant to Rule 137(1)(c)(i) and (ii).
R137 (1)(b) Registration of litter
(b) for pups whelped on or after 1 July 2015 a certificate of vaccination against parvovirus, hepatitis, canine distemper (C3) issued by a veterinary surgeon identifying the greyhound by reference to its sex and colour, that indicates that such vaccination was performed upon the greyhound at least between six (6) and eight (8) weeks.
(c) a certificate of vaccination against parvovirus, hepatitis, canine distemper, parainfluenza virus and bordatella bronchiseptica (C5) issued by a veterinary surgeon identifying the greyhound by reference to its sex, colour, earbranding, and/or microchip identifications, that indicates that such vaccination was performed upon the greyhound between ten (10) and sixteen (16) weeks.
