Employees at the Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) facility at Wyee are reeling following a shock announcement on May 20 that the adoption kennel would be repurposed.
GRNSW Chief Executive Officer Rob Macaulay said the move was part of an organisational reset to reduce costs and streamline business efficiencies due to tough trading and market conditions.
Macaulay said the reset had targeted operational savings of 30 per cent across total budget expenditure in the next financial year.
“There will be no negative impact on animal welfare or track safety initiatives, which will continue with increased funding in line with past years and firm commitments for world-best practices,” he said.
The Wyee facility will be repurposed to be developed as a home base for retired NSW greyhounds identified for rehoming in the US and will be managed by a welfare logistics partner.
“This organisational reset comes after a full business review and extended consultations with participants, club and association leaders and business partners to meet the reality that wagering revenue declines are not a blip but look to be here for the short term at least,” Macauley said.
“I stress that all animal welfare programs, including rehoming efforts, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) retraining for retired greyhounds, track safety works and upgrades will remain fully funded with an unwavering commitment to the world’s best standards.”
But workers at Wyee were blindsided by the move.
They were informed of their dismissal at 10am on May 20 and forced to leave the premises.
One worker described the decision as “a slap in the face” from GRNSW, with locks changed within an hour.
“Our team at Wyee were always committed to the safety and welfare of these gorgeous dogs,” she said.
“Every day we gave these dogs so much love and enrichment, provided them with warm beds and their favourite toys.
“We worked with an amazing adoption team who would educate the community and work with our behaviour team to make these dogs ready for a fresh start to life.
“GAP Wyee was home to up to 70 dogs at some points and had an amazing team of 20 people.
“We all worked rain, hail and shine to look after these dogs and have no idea what is happening to each and every one.
“There are dogs who are on behavioural medications and dogs who are reactive to men, dogs who have seizures and dogs who need to sleep with access to their yards.
“These dogs need to be medicated and receive medical treatment.
“There are dogs who have been desexed recently and dogs with eye problems who require medications as well.
“How do we know that any of these dogs are receiving their care?
“We are worried for the dogs who are in foster care and will have to come back when their foster family isn’t able to look after them.
“Some staff dedicated 10 years to this organisation and are walking away with nothing.”
Greens NSW MP and spokesperson for animal welfare Abigail Boyd has slammed the move.
“According to GRNSW CEO Rob Macaulay, the approximately 50 greyhounds currently residing at Wyee will be transferred to the Londonderry GAP facility, which is already at capacity and a nearly two-hour drive away,” she said.
“We have long known the truth of the greyhound racing industry, that when there is money at stake animal welfare concerns go out the window.
“This shockingly abrupt closure of a rehoming facility is a case in point.
“Staff are now facing unemployment and greyhounds are allegedly to be sent to another overflowing and cramped kennel facility, where they will likely face even worse welfare outcomes.
“And in its place, Greyhound Racing NSW is seeking to expand to industrial scale their cruel international greyhound export program.
“The greyhound racing industry has lost its social licence.
“We urgently need breeding caps to prevent greyhounds being discarded, and ideally we should shut down this cruel industry that has proven time and time again that it cannot be reformed.”
Boyd said welfare advocates had raised serious concerns about the “Aussie Mates” program, which rehomes retired racing greyhounds to the US.
“In reality, we have no way of knowing the fate of these greyhounds once they are taken off the racing industry’s books and sent overseas,” she said.
“Up to 800 greyhounds have already been exported to the US under this program since its launch last year, with no confirmation of exactly where they have ended up, with whom, or indeed if they are still alive at all.”
Terry Collins