Pets
Wales’s greyhound racing ban raises rehoming concerns
A charity warns the UK’s first ban on greyhound racing could put dogs at risk if the industry and welfare groups cannot agree how to wind it down.
Reported by The Guardian · · 1 min read
Wales’s ban on greyhound racing, the first in the UK, has run into trouble over how and when racing should end, and a charity warns that the dogs’ welfare could be at risk. The law received royal assent in April and allows three years for the ban to take effect. A Welsh government working group that includes racing industry representatives and animal welfare organisations is overseeing the change.
Its first report revealed a standoff. Welfare groups want a phased approach, to avoid having to care for and rehome hundreds of dogs in a short period, while the industry says phasing out racing is impractical. The report recommends a 12-month wind-down to support rehoming, but says it cannot make that compulsory, and there is no clear way to resolve the disagreement.
Claire James, chief executive of Greyhound Rescue Wales, said that if there is a hard stop her group and others will do whatever it takes. Her priority, she said, is to make sure the animals are happy and healthy, while the industry is still trying to maximise its profits.
Wales’s only greyhound racing venue, Valley Greyhounds Stadium near Caerphilly, did not respond to a request for comment.
