Simpsons Dog Fronts NZ Push To Rehome 2000 Retired Greyhounds
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Key Facts
- Government ban on greyhound racing will leave about 2000 dogs needing homes
- Greyhounds as Pets is leading the nationwide rehoming effort with agency Special
- The Simpsons team has approved Santa’s Little Helper for local campaign use
- Fashion shows and city posters have already lifted public interest in adoption
New Zealand is bracing for a surge of retired greyhounds after the Government moved to end racing, and rehoming group Greyhounds as Pets is racing the clock to find families. Around 2000 dogs are expected to leave the track over the next few years, turning a niche welfare task into one of the largest single adoption efforts the country has seen.
To change how people see the breed, the charity and creative agency Special have built a high profile awareness push that now includes Santa’s Little Helper from The Simpsons. The character will appear in local ads to show greyhounds as gentle, sleepy companions rather than only as racing animals, building on earlier stunts such as the Greathounds runway show at New Zealand Fashion Week and bold outdoor posters in city centres.
Greyhounds as Pets expects the rehoming work to run for about three years, with many dogs first going into foster homes to learn everyday routines and life off the track. The organisation stresses that most retired racers are calm indoors, need only modest daily walks, and can live happily in everything from apartments to family houses, as long as someone is ready to give them a soft bed and some patience while they adjust.
