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Multimedia Journalist·NZ Herald·

10 Dec, 2025 06:00 PM3 mins to read

The young pup broke his first leg after doing zoomies around the lounge. Photo / Givealittle

A Whangaparāoa woman who recently lost her beloved dog was dealt another round of tragedy when the dog she bought to replace him broke two of his legs.

Diane Woodhouse, 67, turned to Givealittle after surgery and vet bills for her puppy climbed beyond $20,000.

Woodhouse was “distressed for six months” after her Italian greyhound of 14 years, Georgio, died of old age in January this year.

“He’ll always be the first,” the semi-retiree said.

“He’s on the mantle now, there’s pictures of him everywhere.”

Heartbroken, she made arrangements to buy another Italian greyhound “to be the fun, cool friend I need as I age gracefully”.

She travelled to Christchurch to collect new puppy Romeo from a breeder and brought him home to Army Bay.

But within seven weeks, the “fearless” pup, whom she affectionately called a “lovable psycho”, broke one of his front legs while doing zoomies around the lounge.

“He just jumped off the couch and it didn’t look like he landed badly, but he let out an almighty scream and I immediately knew what he’d done.”

Romeo will require further corrective surgery on his bow leg. Photo / Givealittle

Italian greyhounds are notorious for fragile legs between 0-18 months, Woodhouse said, “because they think they’re Superman”.

The second break happened as Romeo was recovering from the first.

Woodhouse was at work when she received a call from her housemate saying Romeo “must have got inquisitive”, and knocked over a large painting and taken another tumble.

“He let out another almighty scream.

“I just ran to the car and drove home as fast as I could,” she said.

Romeo had broken his other front leg and required further surgery.

Each surgery costs up to $8500, and X-rays alone are $1100.

“There’s only so much a retiree can do. The well is dry,” Woodhouse said.

Although pet insurance contributed $10,000, it didn’t fully cover even the first break.

Romeo the Italian greyhound broke both front legs in separate accidents. Photo / Givealittle

Through it all, Romeo remains “the love of my life”.

Woodhouse takes the small pup to her part-time job so she can keep a close eye on him.

“He’s tiny, and people instantly want to cuddle him.

“He just wants to be with you, in the car, on the couch, at work, always.”

Romeo still needs corrective surgery for his bow leg from the first fall, and another to remove “a couple of screws and a plate” from the other leg.

“He’s doing well; it’s been a journey, but he’s a sweet little boy, and people just love him.”

The Givealittle page has raised more than $2500 so far.

Has anyone seen the rehoming outfits moving unwanted greyhounds on, out and about at local Christmas Parades for instance?  If no pressure is being applied, GRNZ owned or subsidised facilities will continue to suck up funds.

the governmant and the greyhound administrators would have had the final report for a couple of months now and all the animal welfare groups are saying,if you've got nothing to hide,why can't you just release the report. I understand the parliament has also passed a resolution asking fot the release of the report,but it hasn't happened  so far.

i guess that all means it won't paint the nsw greyhound industry in a good light. Why else take so long to release it.the delay is not a good look

they did make witnesses evidence available during the hearings.

i was going for a walk the other day and a bloke was walking his greyhound and we passed each other. I couldn't help but feeling a bit sad for all the people and dogs who are involved in greyhound racing.

theres a lot of history there as well. Unfortunately i've always thought the closure was inevitable for some years now,given the mass production type business model that the bigger kennels use. Like anything that is big business,they simply got too big and they had too much wastage(actual living dogs) that cost them money.And like anything big scale,its based a lot on profit and you cut your losses without enough consideration of the impact and perception of such behavior.so i've never had much sympathy in that respect,as the industry chose to allow the creation of the issues that lead to it being closed. The injury issue obviously was significant,but i think the industry could have avoided closure had injuries just been the only reason.

i still like to have the odd bet on the australian dogs. i like watching the dogs run. i especially enjoy seeing them thunder down the straight tracks and i wish nz had pivoted to straight track racing long ago. wanganui straight track racing is good to watch But you could tell that was coming all too late, in my opinion.

One party got a fine, the other helped put one of the final nails in the coffin of greyhound racing in NZ 🤣. Surprised Coles still racing, I thought people who bring or have brought the sport into disrepute aren't allowed licenses.

Good job Mc jnr

At least arseholes like you will be gone 

Good job Mc jnr

At least arseholes like you will be gone 

www.rnz.co.nzhttps://bitofayarn.com

A bid to stall work on implementing the ban on greyhound racing - pending the outcome of a judicial review - has been denied by the High Court in Wellington.

Last December, Racing Minister Winston Peters announced the sport would be banned in 2026.

In August lawyers for the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) argued to the High Court the work of a ministerial advisory committee - tasked with implementing the ban - should be stopped, until a judicial review of the legislation was heard.

https://bitofayarn.com

They said the ban would have a devastating effect on the livelihoods of more than 1000 people and the minister had failed to consult with the Racing Integrity Board's (RIB) and to take into account measures to improve animal welfare in the industry.

On Monday Justice Dale La Hood issued his ruling declining the application for interim relief.

He said Cabinet's decision to ban greyhound racing was "not subject to any legal yardsticks" and there was no statutory duty to consult with the RIB.

La Hood said the GRA had failed to make a strong case that the minister was required to go beyond the information provided by the RIB that was presented to Cabinet ahead of the decision. https://bitofayarn.com

"The executive is not unlawfully implementing the ban without legislative authority by requiring members of greyhound racing clubs to cease greyhound racing while it is still lawful," La Hood concluded.

He said evidence linking the consequences of the ban to the call for the work to be delayed was "weak".

"Although there can be little doubt that participants in the industry are preparing for the fact that Parliament may ultimately enact the proposed legislation, there is no evidence specifically addressing whether the orders now sought (disavowing any attempt to delay the legislative process) would have any material effect on those consequences (logic and common sense would suggest not)," La Hood wrote.

Finishing line in sight for greyhound racing

12:05 pm today 

RNZ Gallery

Racing Minister Winston Peters says greyhound racing is winding down around the world. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii

Cabinet has formally agreed to shut down greyhound racing in New Zealand.

The agreement cements an in-principle decision taken last year to end greyhound racing from 31 July 2026, in the wake of three major reviews of the industry over animal welfare and safety concerns.

A bill will now be drafted to give effect to that decision, and will include setting up a transition agency - funded by the TAB - to manage rehoming of greyhounds and supporting industry members while the sport is wound down.

Industry members will be supported as greyhound racing comes to an end, Winston Peters says. Photo: 123RF

Racing Minister Winston Peters said having a comprehensive plan was crucial, and a ministerial advisory committee led by Heather Simpson had been consulting with sector representatives, rehoming agencies, animal welfare groups, and government agencies to plan out the process.

"It is important people get the opportunity to have their say. The decision to end greyhound racing was not one Cabinet took lightly. I acknowledge the impact that closing the industry will have on those involved," Peters said.

"But globally the industry is winding down, with Tasmania recently announcing an end to greyhound racing. The bottom line is too many dogs continue to die and be seriously injured, and it is time to do the right thing."

He said the bill to bring the shutdown into law would be introduced to Parliament before the end of the year, and consulted on through the select committee process.

What actually happened here? What malfunctioned to cause enough damage to abandon the meeting?

Get your stop the ban shirts out and everyone look your best tomorrow night. 

Addington have just tried to tell us to take down our stop the ban signs from the electronic board for their dual code. 

They don’t want us to display them. 

Do our industry proud and show the public we are worth keeping.

This is very disappointing that another race code that collects rent revenue from the hounds behaves like this.  I for one will not support harness code in the furture