Calls for greyhound racing ban as new figures show the scale of deaths and injuries

National animal welfare charity the League Against Cruel Sports renewed calls for greyhound racing to be banned after the industry’s governing body published figures last week showing the scale of deaths and injuries sustained last year.

The Greyhound Board of Great Britian figures show 109 deaths at trackside and 4,238 injuries at its 20 tracks in 2023, a high proportion of the 15,000 active racing greyhounds in the UK.

Emma Judd, the League’s head of campaigns, said: “The inherently unsafe nature of racing greyhounds around oval tracks is causing an unacceptable death toll and inordinate number of injuries.

“It’s time for greyhound racing to be banned – greyhounds are currently being sacrificed for the profits of the gambling industry and people’s entertainment.”

A further 55 greyhounds were found no home or designated unsuitable for homing so were put to sleep as the industry didn’t have a use for them anymore.

The figures, which Defra stipulates the GBGB provides every year, go back to 2018 and show a large number of deaths and injuries every year.

A report conducted by Professor Andrew Knight into greyhound racing established in 2018 that racing around oval tracks at great speeds put huge strain on the greyhounds’ bodies and made deaths and injuries inevitable.

Accidents or pile-ups at or approaching the first bend are notorious and the report quotes from another source showing that congestion here accounts for many fatalities.

Emma added: “The scale of greyhound fatalities and injuries we are seeing is shocking and we need to see an end to greyhound racing which flies in the face of animal welfare standards in the UK.

“The government’s Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs explains how to keep your dog healthy, but these GBGB figures show a world of pain, suffering and injury among racing greyhounds.”

Ends

Notes to editors

GBGB-VERIFIED-Injury-Retirement-Summary-2023

Injuries in racing greyhounds by Professor Andrew Knight

The government’s Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs

Below is a photo of a former racing greyhound and an infographic on the figures.

Photo credit: Sue Pooley – Wild Photography

For more information or interview requests please contact the League Against Cruel Sports press office on 01483 524250 or email pressoffice@league.org.uk

The League Against Cruel Sports is Britain's leading charity that works to stop animals being persecuted, abused and killed for sport. The League was instrumental in helping bring about the landmark Hunting Act 2004, the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021, the strengthened fox hunting laws of the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023 and a ban on the use of snares created by the Agriculture (Wales) Act 2023.

We carry out investigations to expose law-breaking and cruelty to animals and campaign for stronger animal protection laws and penalties. We work to change attitudes and behaviour through education and manage wildlife reserves. Find out more about our work at www.league.org.uk. Registered charity in England and Wales (no.1095234) and Scotland (no.SC045533).