As Wales prepares to ban greyhound races, authorities confirmed that this will not be the case in other regions of the United Kingdom. According to lawmakers, greyhound racing’s economic and entertainment value cannot be denied.
Wales to Stop Greyhound Races
Last week, lawmakers in Wales unveiled their decision to put a stop to greyhound races because of animal cruelty concerns. Citing reports of wounded and mistreated animals, officials opted to phase out the sport “as soon as practically possible.”
Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies confirmed the plans, which came in the wake of a public petition to end greyhound races and a government consultation. The measure has also been supported by a cross-party front.
Irranca-Davies promised that the ban would be implemented as quickly as possible, although he refrained from providing a clear timeline. Irranca-Davies, however, noted that it is possible that the ban would be implemented before the next Welsh Parliament election. The election, for context, is set to take place in May 2026.
Despite Wales’ racing-related animal well-being concerns, however, England, Scotland and Northern England remain reluctant to adopt similar bans.
UK Has No Such Plans
Shortly after Wales announced that it would ban greyhound racing as soon as possible, UK Shadow Culture Minister Louie French raised the question of whether a similar ban would be introduced on a national level.
The UK Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport Lisa Nandy commented on the matter highlighting the value that greyhound racing brings. According to her, the sport is a major economic driver and a beloved source of entertainment to many.
Nandy emphasized that, as of the time of this writing, the UK government has “absolutely no plans” to put a stop to greyhound racing across the UK.
The Greyhound Board of Great Britain shares Nandy’s opinion on the matter. The board alleged that the decision to crack down on greyhound racing in Wales is not related to dog welfare but rather to pressure from animal rights extremists.
It should be noted that greyhound racing is much bigger in England than it is in other regions of the UK. Whereas England boasts a staggering 18 greyhound racing tracks, Northern Ireland has only two. Scotland and Wales, meanwhile, have a single track each.
New Zealand to Ban Greyhound Races
Wales’ decision to ban greyhound racing comes two months after New Zealand decided to adopt a similar approach. New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Racing Minister Winston Peters said that even though modern greyhound racing has become somewhat safer, dogs still get hurt.
According to the earlier announcement, the government will end the industry over the next 20 months. In this time, around 2,900 racing greyhounds will find new homes with help from animal welfare groups.