The Senedd has voted in favour of protecting greyhounds in Wales from the harms of racing. The Bill will prohibit greyhound racing in Wales.
A transition period to allow the industry to wind down responsibly, strengthen rehoming arrangements for retired greyhounds, and prepare enforcement bodies and local authorities for the change which will see the prohibition brought into effect between 1 April 2027 and 1 April 2030.
The Bill reflects a clear policy choice: that the injuries, fatalities, and poor post-racing outcomes associated with greyhound racing can no longer be justified. Despite efforts within the industry, harm to greyhounds has remained a consistent reality.
Huw Irranca-Davies, Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, said: “Wales is a progressive nation, committed to ethical standards and forward-thinking legislation. This Bill strengthens our reputation as a leader on animal welfare and delivers the standards that the people of Wales rightly expect.”
This historic moment for animal welfare, which will bring an end to this cruel form of entertainment, has been warmly welcomed by the Cut the Chase coalition, a group comprising Blue Cross, Dogs Trust, Greyhound Rescue Wales, Hope Rescue, and RSPCA Cymru. Collectively, they have been campaigning to bring greyhound racing to an end in Wales to prevent the entirely avoidable injuries and deaths of dogs involved in racing.
Since 2017, over 4,000 greyhounds have died or been put to sleep across the UK because of their involvement with racing, while there have been more than 35,000 injuries.
The ban in Wales has strong public support, with a petition launched by Hope Rescue gaining more than 35,000 signatures, and the Senedd’s Petitions Committee subsequently reaching the majority conclusion that greyhound racing should come to an end.
National animal welfare charity the League Against Cruel Sports has welcomed the successful passage of the Prohibition of Greyhound Racing (Wales) Bill, and urged the Welsh Government to “implement the ban as soon as possible”
A similar vote is taking place in the Scottish parliament tomorrow [Wednesday 18 March] to also ban greyhound racing north of the border. League campaigners are now urging the UK Government to take the necessary steps to ban this dangerous sport in England.
Jamie Adair, the League’s public affairs officer for Wales, said: “Greyhound racing is cruel from the cradle to the grave, so we welcome this ban in Wales and call on the Welsh Government to name a date for it to be implemented.
“The death and injury toll of greyhound racing is quite simply shocking, and goes beyond what people see at the racetracks.”
Owen Sharp, Chief Executive at Dogs Trust – “Today’s vote in Wales is a landmark moment for dog welfare and a huge step towards ending the needless suffering of greyhounds. For too long, dogs have paid the price for this outdated form of entertainment, with injuries and deaths that are entirely preventable.
“While Wales is leading the way, we cannot afford to rest on our laurels. With the vote on the future of greyhound racing in Scotland imminent, and racing still permitted in England and Northern Ireland, there is much more to do to end the needless deaths of dogs across the UK.”
Chris Burghes, Chief Executive at Blue Cross – “We are absolutely delighted that legislation to end this cruel so called ‘sport’ has been agreed by Members of the Senedd and will soon become law.
“For the past four years we have been raising concerns with the Welsh Government and Senedd Members that the significant improvements needed to protect the welfare of these dogs have not been made and we do not believe ever will be. The death of just one racing dog is one too many so we welcome the news in Wales, the first UK nation to reign greyhound racing to the history books.
“We would like to reassure animal lovers that Blue Cross is ready to help with rehoming ex-racing greyhounds. Working alongside other pet welfare organisations, we are committed to getting every single dog the veterinary and behavioural care they may need and finding them all loving new homes to prevent any need for the dogs to be abandoned or put to sleep.”
Claire James, Chief Executive at Greyhound Rescue Wales – “After 25 years of tireless campaigning to improve the welfare and regulation of greyhounds and the racing industry, Wales has taken the historic and transformative decision to end the antiquated, cruel and repugnant practice of Greyhound Racing once and for all.
“As a nation, we can hold our heads high and stand shoulder to shoulder with New Zealand, Italy, Argentina and much of the US in passing legislation to ensure greyhounds will no longer be harmed in the interests of gambling. Our hope is that Scotland soon joins us, and that both Wales and Scotland will pave the way for the rest of the UK.”
Vanessa Waddon, Chief Executive at Hope Rescue – “Having witnessed first-hand the catastrophic injuries suffered by greyhounds racing in Wales through our Amazing Greys project, I am delighted that Welsh Government has put animal welfare first and Wales has become the first U.K. nation to ban greyhound racing. We are proud that our petition gathered so much public and cross-party support, and that the hard work of the #CutThe Chase coalition has resulted in this historic win for animal welfare. We look forward to a future where greyhounds in Wales no longer face the prospect of injury or death every time they race.”
Jo Rowland, Chief Executive for the RSPCA: “Greyhound racing is inherently dangerous for the dogs involved, so today’s vote is a historic moment for animal welfare in Wales.
“The industry’s own data shows that – across England and Wales – thousands of injuries have occurred in recent years as a result of racing, while hundreds of dogs have lost their lives – that level of suffering, purely for the purpose of entertainment, is simply unacceptable.
“Wales has now taken decisive action to prioritise animal welfare. We now hope that England and other nations across the UK – who are now among only a handful of countries globally where greyhound racing persists – will follow suit and end this needless risk to greyhounds.”
