Retired greyhounds will be retrained to serve as post-traumatic stress disorder companion animals for Australia’s Federal Police in a world-first initiative announced in Canberra on February 9.
“I could not think of a better match — the most loyal and loving animals in the world side by side with some of the bravest men and women in our country,” Greyhound Racing NSW chief executive officer Robert Macaulay said.
The ground-breaking program is a union between the Australian Federal Police Association, GRNSW and Greyhounds Australasia.
AFPA president Alex Caruana said his association was “proud and happy” to welcome greyhounds and partner with GRNSW and GA for this innovative initiative.
“The typically busy operational work life of our members, coupled with socially isolating shifts and on-call rosters, means that they often find it exceedingly difficult to switch off and decompress after traumatic incidents,” Mr Caruana said.
“Highly-trained and decorated police association members invariably become broken and insular through no fault of their own.
“Meeting and bonding with a support animal gives them so much back over time in terms of independence, manageable routines, exercise and social independence.
“As an animal lover, I am personally thrilled that these wonderful dogs are able to help people in this way, and at the same time ‘retire’ into a loving environment where they will be showered with love, trust and lots of treats.”
The announcement comes less than three months after GRNSW and GA announced a partnership to supply greyhounds as pets to the members of the Police Association of NSW.
“Working closely with Greyhounds Australasia chair Robert Vellar, we realised we had to take this one step further, and we have now been able to enter into an agreement with one of the pre-eminent dog trainers in Australia, Steve Austin, to retrain our retired athletes for a new career as a PTSD companion animal,” Mr Macaulay said.
Mr Vellar said as former police officer he fully understood the demands of the job.
“Our experience has been that by adopting a greyhound as a loyal, forever companion, it will assist in the management of post-traumatic stress disorder,” he said.