More than 13,600 people signed a petition to Parliament calling for the sport to be banned
The government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has issued a significant update amid worries about greyhound racing in the UK. Its message responds to a parliamentary petition, now signed by over 13,000 people, calling for a ban on the sport.
According to the RSPCA, 2,700 greyhounds died and over 26,500 were injured from racing in Great Britain between 2018 and 2023. Although Wales intends to ban this sport between 2027 and 2030, the petition contends that the rest of the UK should also act, as ‘no animal should suffer for sport or entertainment’.
In response, DEFRA acknowledged the concerns some people have about greyhound racing, but stated that it does not plan to ban the sport completely across the UK. “The government has no plans to ban greyhound racing,” its update, published on October 30, read.
“While the government recognises the concerns some people have about greyhound racing, there is legislation in place to protect the welfare of racing greyhounds in England and a regulatory body – the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) – that has made many improvements to greyhound welfare.
“The government also recognises the important contribution greyhound racing makes to the country’s cultural life and its rural economy, providing some 5400 jobs across Great Britain as well as being the sixth most popular sport in terms of viewership.”
Beyond this, DEFRA also stressed that the welfare of racing greyhounds in England is covered by the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations 2010. The 2006 Act specifically permits action when there is evidence of cruelty to an animal or a failure to meet its welfare needs.
According to Manchester Evening News, the response continued: “This includes where greyhounds are raced at tracks or kept at trainers’ kennels. Further to these general provisions, welfare standards at all English greyhound tracks are set by the 2010 Regulations.
“The 2010 Regulations include the requirement that all tracks must have a vet present while dogs are running, who must inspect each greyhound intended to run in every race, trial, or sales trial to ensure that the greyhound is fit to run.
“Temperature-controlled kennelling must also be provided at the track, and all racing greyhounds must be permanently identified. Tracks must also keep records of any injuries sustained to greyhounds while at the track.
“Standards in the 2010 Regulations can be enforced either by the local authority or by GBGB. GBGB’s ability to regulate track standards in the 2010 Regulations is allowed for in law because they are accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS).
“UKAS is the UK’s National Accreditation Body, recognised by the government as the sole UK organisation for the accreditation of certification and inspection bodies. UKAS provides independent, external oversight of GBGB’s performance as a regulator of track standards.”
The ongoing petition titled ‘Ban greyhound racing’ has garnered more than 13,000 signatures. If it reaches 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.
You can read the petition and its response in full here.
