The Simpsons lend star power to greyhound appeal

The Simpsons have joined New Zealand’s largest ever dog adoption campaign, as Santa’s Little Helper steps in to help rehome over 2,000 greyhounds before the sport is banned in 2026.

In a Christmas-season push created by agency Special for Greyhounds as Pets (GAP), iconic scenes featuring the Simpson family’s beloved greyhound highlight the gentle, loyal, and low-maintenance nature of the breed – aiming to shift perceptions and boost adoption rates.

“This campaign keeps the spotlight on these beautiful dogs,” said Special’s CCO Lisa Fedyszyn. “Santa’s Little Helper gives us a unique platform to shift perceptions at scale.”

The campaign, rolling out across OOH and social, forms the second phase of a long-term initiative to change hearts and minds around greyhounds.

It follows racing minister Winston Peters’ decision to ban greyhound racing from August 2026.

Lisa Philp, GAP’s national manager, added: “Having Santa’s Little Helper champion our dogs is nothing short of extraordinary… this Christmas we’re asking Kiwis to open their hearts and homes.”

The work was produced in collaboration with Together, Go Media, JCDecaux, Outdoor Media Network, NZME and Flux.

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