Greyhounds As Pets National Adoption Day: Spotlight on Sydney Royal Easter Show Success
While the Sydney Royal Easter Show provided a fantastic preview, the real highlight is just around the corner. Since the show opened on April 2, greyhounds have been a major attraction at the Greyhounds As Pets (GAP) stand in the Pet Pavilion. Based on the overwhelming number of pats, cuddles, and inquiries, many visitors are expected to attend National Adoption Day (NAD) events next week.
Steve Griffin, chief executive of Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW), expressed optimism about the upcoming adoption drive. "If we get just a small percentage of people who visited our stand at the Easter Show attend our National Adoption Day events around the state next weekend, I think a lot of homes will be welcoming greyhounds as new family members," he said. "The Royal Easter Show has provided us with a great vehicle to showcase greyhounds to the wider public who might not normally see these dogs in a different environment."
The GAP team handled numerous questions about greyhound ownership, with significant interest in adoption details. This led to direct information about NAD events being shared. Griffin added, "We all knew what loving and gentle animals greyhounds are, and I'm sure everyone who stopped by our stand at the show now also knows."
National Adoption Day Events Across NSW
GAP will host NAD events at multiple locations:
- Entertainment Quarter in Sydney's Moore Park on April 19
- Petstock in Dubbo on April 19
- Anzac Park in Tamworth on April 19
- Petbarn in Coffs Harbour on April 18
- Petstock in Wagga Wagga on April 18
These events aim to connect greyhounds with loving families, building on the momentum from the Easter Show.
Rugby League Stars Champion Greyhound Adoption
During the show, the greyhounds shared attention with ambassadors James Tedesco and Mitch Moses, both rugby league stars. Moses, who has been involved with GRNSW and GAP for about six months, praised the breed. "I've been to the track and seen the athletic side of greyhounds racing, but I also have had the opportunity to spend time working with Greyhounds As Pets on a couple of projects recently, and it just amazes me what chilled and affectionate animals they are," he said.
Moses noted the strong public interest at the Easter Show, observing many people eager to interact with the dogs. "The annual National Adoption Day events around NSW always attract big crowds, and we see a lot of greyhounds find new homes and lounges to sleep on. I'm sure it will be no different this year," he added. Although he cannot attend due to a game against Canterbury, he encouraged everyone to visit an event.
Tedesco, who will be playing for the Roosters against Newcastle on April 19, is also a vocal supporter. "I don't think many people know that greyhounds are great pets," he said. "I've learned more about that in the last couple of years—how friendly and calm they are, whether you have young kids, and they are great companions for older people too."
This article was produced as part of an ACM partnership with Greyhound Racing NSW.
