News from Victoria
By ANDREW THOMSON

JET PETS has been in the greyhound transport business for the best part of the last decade and recently stepped up its sponsorship involvement in the industry as a means of lifting its national profile.

Owner-manager Sandy Matheson said deals had been struck with Albion Park, Bulli and Dapto to further boost Jet Pets' racing sponsorship in the three main greyhound racing states, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.

Matheson got Jet Pets off the ground in 1991 after working for Qantas in the livestock division for seven years. "There was certainly a need for a professional transport service," he said. "We are involved in animal transport, with our main market greyhound delivery from door to door locally, interstate and internationally."

Matheson said his business transported hundreds of greyhounds a year with his main source of trade brood bitches and transporting racing greyhounds for special event and to interstate markets. He said the price for transportation had dropped markedly in the past couple of years. Excess baggage rates for a greyhound is about $30 plus a crate Jet Pets service is a highly competitive $85.

"We use Ansett and Qantas depending on which is the better flight for the greyhound's needs," Matheson said. "We have also designed a larger crate to fit in the holds of the aircraft. The hold doors are 85cm high and our crates are 80cm which allow a racing greyhound to stand up. That has helped enormously in providing maximum comfort for the greyhound and limited stress," Matheson said. "We have offices in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne and most of the big studs and trainers use us. We are carrying the best bitches in the land to the best stud dogs," he said. "About 99.9 percent of transports are now incident free. Our offices are only minutes from the airport terminals. Our staff all carry electrolytes in case of delays and even if airport officials have problems with other stock they are transporting we are usually contacted and happy to assist. We certainly rely on the airlines and they have come to rely on the service and skill we can provide. If there are delays or flight cancellations we are contacted and can take the appropriate action. There is a safety net in place."

Matheson said his business is growing and turnover with Ansett alone run in hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. He said Jet Pets has sponsorship arrangements with Shepparton, Geelong, Cranbourne, The Meadows, Launceston and the Traralgon Cup. Bulli is coming on board through the work of Paul Barnes, David Newling has been looking after us at Dapto and we are in the final stages of discussions with Bob Lambert at Albion Park. "We aim to keep our name in front of trainers and owners and have found that in Victoria greyhound people certainly appreciate us putting something back into their clubs and the industry.

Matheson said he took out a owner-trainer licence about two years ago and the best greyhound he has raced is Assumed Missing, which recently won at Sandown in a slick 30.04. "Rob Britton was training him for me and now Shane Wilkins is looking after him. I got started with greyhounds through a mate Des Kerwin of Woodend, who has had a few good dogs. The first I had a share in was Alarm Bells. He won six or seven races and I was bitten by the racing bug. I'm addicted.
"I also like to have a hit of golf but I've found it's very hard to play golf when you have a couple of greyhounds," he said. "I religiously follow Collingwood in the AFL and I support the Broncos."

"Rapid Journey was the best greyhound I've seen race and I'm impressed with Poetic Reward."

Matheson, 35, is married to wife Jenny and the couple have two daughters 10 and four years, Jenna and Brooke.


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