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As temperatures soar in Perth during a heatwave, the welfare of greyhounds in the racing industry becomes a critical concern. These elegant and sensitive animals are subjected to intense physical exertion, often in extreme heat, raising serious ethical and safety issues. Greyhound racing during a heatwave is not just a matter of discomfort; it is a life-threatening practice that must be addressed immediately.

The Physical Impact of Heat on Greyhounds
Greyhounds, like all dogs, are susceptible to heat stress and heatstroke. Their lean body structure and thin coats provide minimal protection against soaring temperatures. When racing in extreme heat, their bodies can quickly overheat, leading to dehydration, exhaustion, and even organ failure. Unlike humans, dogs cannot regulate their body temperature effectively through sweating, relying instead on panting, which becomes insufficient under such extreme conditions.

Ethical Concerns
Subjecting greyhounds to races during a heatwave highlights a troubling disregard for their welfare. These animals are often viewed as commodities rather than sentient beings with the capacity to suffer. The practice prioritises profits and entertainment over the basic rights of these dogs to live in safe and humane conditions. This lack of compassion is not only unethical but also undermines the integrity of the industry as a whole.

Regulatory Shortcomings in Perth, Western Australia
In Perth, the situation is particularly concerning. While Racing and Wagering WA (RWWA) have a Hot Weather Policy for greyhound racing, racing continues to take place despite soaring temperatures, putting the lives of these animals at risk. Why? The policy is self enforced and is non-binding. That is, decisions about racing are made by the stewards, not an independent regulator, and the policy provides options during hot weather periods rather than mandatory requirements.

The policy provides that on hot weather affected days of 32-37.9°C, the steward can decide to either move racing to another venue, reschedule the meet, abandon the meet or continue racing as planned. There is no requirement for the steward to make a given decision, the policy just provides the stewards with options.

On 8th December 2024, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) declared that the Perth area would experience a “severe heatwave” for three days, starting on Tuesday 10th December 2024. At 5pm on 10th December, when kennelling of greyhounds at WA tracks commences, the temperature in Perth, where RWWA takes it temperature readings, was 35°C. Greyhound racing went ahead as planned. At 5pm on 11th December, the temperature in Perth was 35.9°C. Again, racing went ahead as scheduled.