One sport that has come under fire in recent years is Greyhound racing. The issues involve the way the dogs are treated and how they are not cared for once their young years have passed.
Many animal welfare organizations have called for the sport to be canceled but their shouts often fall on deaf ears. That is largely because of the popularity of the sport and how long it has been a part of the culture in some areas.
It seems as if the animal welfare charities have had some success in Wales, as the government has confirmed that Greyhound racing will be banned as ‘soon as practically possible.
According to Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies, the sport would be phased out over time due to the criticism that has been put on how the dogs are handled.
Although there has not been a specific timeline announced, Irranca-Davies did say that it is ‘not impossible’ that it could happen before the next Welsh Parliament election in May 2026. The ban would first be for the UK.
A number of calls came from different parties for the ban. It included a petition that got over 35,000 signatures. There is only one dog-racing track in Wales, the Valley Stadium in Ystrad Mynach.
Dogs Trust, an animal welfare charity was happy to hear the news. They said the following in a statement: “Greyhound racing is inherently dangerous for the dogs involved, and running at speed around oval tracks causes significant injury to many dogs.
“In some cases, the injuries are so severe that it is necessary to euthanize the dog.”
The RSPCA was also happy to hear the news.
There was a statement from the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB), which regulates the sport. They said it had ‘nothing to do with greyhound welfare and everything to do with pressure from the extreme animal rights movement’.
It said the Welsh government did not meet with those in the industry in whales.
Chief executive Mike Bird said: “We have engaged in the consultation process in good faith as regulator for the sport, but this statement is hugely disappointing.”
Initially, this announcement was to come in the spring but they moved it forward. New Zealand made a similar move in December.
Irranca-Davies said: “I want a ban to come into force as soon as practicably possible.
“There will be work to do in ensuring the dogs, their owners, and those involved in the industry around the racetrack, can wind down from this activity while still protecting the welfare of dogs currently within the industry, the local community and the local economy.”
