The UK government has rejected calls from the public to ban greyhound racing, calling it a well-regulated sport that contributes to cultural life and the rural economy.
On 30 October, the government issued its response to a petition calling to ban the sport which has attracted more than 13,000 signatures.
The petition expressed concerns over animal welfare, citing statistics showing that between 2017 and 2023, 1,230 dogs died trackside while more than 31,000 injuries were recorded.
It further argued that the industry breeds more dogs than are needed for racing, with around 15,000-20,000 bred in Ireland each year and more bred in Britain, alongside concerns that “dogs live in poor kennel conditions, and overbreeding creates a surplus, overwhelming rescue centres.”
