Minister for Racing Martin Pakula today unveiled a 60-kennel facility at Mount Mercer as part of Greyhound Racing Victoria’s (GRV) highly successful adoption program.

The nine-hectare property, located 25 kilometres south of Ballarat, includes indoor and outdoor spaces with large open paddocks, slip-tracks and 70-metre runs, all of which are surrounded by secure fencing.

The Mount Mercer facility will assess dogs from across the Western District for their suitability for adoption and entry into the Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP). Once assessed, the dogs will be transferred to the Seymour GAP facility for adoption.

Three local residents have also been employed to attend and transport the dogs to and from the facility seven days a week, while a full-time caretaker will live on site.

The property, formerly a pre-training facility for young greyhounds, is being leased by Greyhound Racing Victoria to help further support greyhound adoptions across Victoria.

Local trades people and businesses were employed to customise the existing kennels on the site to ensure they met the program’s standards.

The adoption program has grown over the past 20 years to become one of the world’s largest and most successful greyhound rehoming projects. It has achieved about 7000 adoptions since opening, including a record 895 adoptions in 2015-16.

Greyhound Racing Victoria has also abolished its $50 fee to assess the temperament of greyhounds which are privately adopted or rehomed through other organisations.

Anyone who has adopted a greyhound can now take their dog in to GAP facility for a ‘green collar assessment’ which allows suitable greyhounds to be in public without wearing a muzzle.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Racing Martin Pakula

“This new facility builds on the work already being done by Greyhound Racing Victoria to support the welfare of greyhounds in this state.”

“The kennels at Mount Mercer will support other adoption facilities at Seymour and the Mornington Peninsula which rehome hundreds of greyhounds to Victorian families each year.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Buninyong Geoff Howard

“This new facility will retrain greyhounds at the end of their racing career to get them ready to find new homes.”

“Greyhounds make fantastic pets – they’re gentle and quiet and like many dogs will be a great addition to any family.”

Quotes attributable to Greyhound Racing Victoria Chair Bernie Carolan

“This new facility will help improve the process for greyhound adoption, which is a crucial part of the priorities of the new Greyhound Racing Victoria.”

“Animal welfare is our overriding priority above all else, and we are committed to providing the best possible life for every greyhound before, during and after their racing careers or even if they never make it to the track as a racing dog.”

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