Wales to Ban Greyhound Racing!
Great news: The deputy first minister of Wales announced his intention to ban greyhound racing “as soon as practically possible.” An implementation group is being set up to achieve this. Scotland, England and Northern Ireland must follow suit to end this cruel industry in the UK.
Greyhound Racing Isn’t a Sport
Dogs used for racing are denied the love and companionship they deserve. Instead, they are often muzzled and kept in barren cages for up to 23 hours a day. Many are only let out of their cages to race, where they often suffer broken legs, heat stroke, and heart attacks.
Greyhounds are gentle animals who love affection and a snooze on the sofa. They don’t care about winning trophies or prize money – so let’s leave them out of those human pursuits.
A day out and the chance of winning a few quid is never worth more than a dog’s life, and while Wales will be the UK’s first nation to ban this cruel industry, we are hopeful it will not be the last.
Killed, Shot, and Buried in Mass Grave
Across the racing greyhound population, there were 3,145 deaths between 2018-2023. This figure includes dogs killed on the racing track and also those who were killed because they weren’t fast enough or because veterinary bills were deemed too expensive by their owners.
An investigation by the Sunday Times found a builder who had killed over 10,000 greyhounds with a bolt gun and buried them in a mass grave. These dogs were given to him by trainers who didn’t want them because they weren’t fast enough. That’s the reality for many dogs in this industry – no happy retirement plan exists.
Many other greyhounds are discarded like used betting slips once their racing days are over. Rescue centres are left to try to rehome these dogs if they are not killed despite already operating at full capacity.
Overbreeding
It’s estimated that about 10 times more dogs are being bred than are registered for racing. The exact number is unknown because thousands are disposed of or dumped if they are not fast enough.
Dogs Drugged With Cocaine and Morphine
The use of drugs – legal and illegal – is a clear issue in greyhound racing, with the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) reporting 318 positive drug tests in greyhounds between 2016-2022. Morphine was commonly used to mask the pain many dogs felt from their injuries so trainers could continue to race them. In Scotland and Ireland, dogs have been found drugged with cocaine to win races.
Decline in Dog Racing
Up and down the UK, dog-racing stadiums have been closing due to dwindling attendance, a sign that the British public is turning its back on this cruel sport. According to GBGB, the number of greyhound tracks in Britain has fallen from seventy-seven to nineteen in the past eighty years.
What You Can Do
Attending or betting on a greyhound race directly funds this inherently cruel industry. Please never support it and tell your friends and family to avoid these archaic spectacles.
While you are here, please act for other animals forced to race in the entertainment industry. Help horses now by urging companies to drop their Cheltenham sponsorship:
