West Torrens Council to allow greyhounds offlead time at Kurralta Park dog park

Every dog has its day — except if you’re a greyhound, that is. But discrimination against the breed is about to end, with an Adelaide council to allow them to run free in a dog park.

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Every dog has its day — except if you’re a greyhound, that is.

But the discrimination against the breed might soon be eased, allowing greyhounds in Adelaide to enjoy equal canine rights and run free in a dog park.

Up to now, their owners have been forced to make the lengthy trip to Port Elliot — the only location in the state that allows them to exercise their greyhound pets legally off-lead.

Sessions there are booked out six months in advance.

Striking a blow for greyhound liberation, West Torrens Council this week agreed to allow periodic off-lead greyhound-only events at a dog park in Kurralta Park.

By law, greyhounds can exercise off-lead only on private property — the sole breed for which this rule is enforced.

There are no public areas in metropolitan Adelaide — including designated off-lead areas or dog parks — where they are permitted to run free.

The West Torrens proposal is subject to approval by the SA Dog and Cat Management Board.

If the board grants an exemption to Section 45C of the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995, three-hour greyhound-only sessions will be allowed at the Moss Ave site in Kurralta Park.

The driving force behind the new dispensation for greyhounds is West Torrens councillor Elisabeth Papanikolaou.

“Greyhounds are popular pets thanks to their placid and gentle natures but they are not currently afforded the same opportunities as other dog breeds to exercise and socialise in dog parks,” Cr Papanikolaou said.

Greyhound owner Iordan Kostadinov with his dog Geoffrey and West Torrens councillor Elisabeth Papanikolaou. Picture: AAP / Roy VanDerVegt

“Providing a greyhound-only time at a dog park will allow these dogs to have the opportunity to run, smell, play and socialise — as all other dogs are currently able to do.”

She said the huge popularity of the “greyhound hour” at the Port Elliot dog park “demonstrates that this is a safe and highly sought-after opportunity by greyhound owners throughout the state”.

“Let West Torrens lead the way so that other councils will do the same,” she said.

Alexandrina Council — the local authority governing Port Elliot — has recently held two successful greyhound-only dog-park events.

Three further trials have been booked over the next 12 weeks.

A report to West Torrens Council notes that its dog compliance leader attended an off-leash greyhound event in Port Elliot on March 17 to assess the program and talk to the organisers.

“The event ran very smoothly and there were no issues,” the report states.

If the West Torrens Council proposal achieves management board ratification, it will seek community feedback about 9am-noon greyhound events that would initially run monthly for a six-month trial.