The Prison Pet Partnership, formed in 2007, is a partnership between Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) and Corrections Victoria which helps prepare retired greyhounds for life as a domestic pet.
Retired racers from GRV’s Greyhound Adoption Program are paired with inmates from minimum security Victorian prisons – Dhurringile (male) and Tarrengower (female) – who take on the role of foster carers.
This involves teaching the greyhounds basic manners and social skills, introducing them to a non-racing diet and helping familiarise them with household items including noisy appliances, walking on slippery floors and climbing up and down stairs.
The partnership is a huge asset to the Greyhound Adoption Program, which has re-homed thousands of former racers, as it is in constant need of foster carers. The inmates, with the guidance of qualified domestic dog trainers, have had sensational results with even the most boisterous of greyhounds.
Not only does the Prison Pet Partnership assist in giving greyhounds a second chance at life, but it has provided many inmates with experience in working with animals, purpose, and unconditional love from the greyhounds.
More than 35 greyhounds go through each of the two prisons every year – four at a time for a period of six weeks.