End of the Track: Greyhound Racing Banned in Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Greyhound racing in Wales is finally over. After years of pressure from campaigners, the government has announced a ban - the first in the UK. The decision follows a petition that gathered over 35,000 signatures and a consultation where nearly two-thirds of respondents supported outlawing the industry. The ban will come into force "as soon as practically possible," with an Implementation Group set up to manage the transition.

A step towards justice

Greyhound racing has long been condemned as a brutal industry that treats dogs as disposable commodities. Injuries are common, overbreeding is rampant, and dogs who are no longer profitable are often abandoned or killed. The Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) claims to uphold "the highest possible standards of welfare," but the reality is far bleaker.

Jilly is proof of that. She was abandoned by her trainer after breaking her leg on the track. Left behind like trash, she was rescued by Hope Rescue and later adopted by Essex Havard, who has been campaigning for a ban for years. When Jilly first arrived, she was nervous, unaccustomed to life outside a concrete box. But with time, she transformed into a bold, curious, and happy dog.

The same story plays out over and over. Beca Brown, a trustee of Welsh Greyhound Rescue, adopted Nel, who had been discarded in Ireland after failing her racing trials. Unsocialised and fearful, she reacted badly to other dogs - because in the racing industry, greyhounds rarely interact with other breeds. "People would be up in arms if this happened to a Labrador," Beca said. "But greyhounds have been othered."

The industry’s defenders argue that banning greyhound racing will harm the economy and set a dangerous precedent for outlawing other animal-based sports. (Yes, please.) But public opinion is clear: greyhound racing is done.

The global shift 🌍

Wales joins a growing list of places rejecting greyhound racing. New Zealand (Aotearoa) announced its ban last December, set to take effect by August 2026. Other countries have already shut down the industry, recognising it for what it is - exploitation dressed up as entertainment.

Meanwhile, the UK government remains silent. Herbivore Club submitted a petition request for a UK-wide ban last month, but it has yet to be approved for signatures. The question now isn’t if the rest of the UK will follow Wales - it’s when.

What happens to the dogs?

With only one licensed track in Wales - Valley Greyhound Stadium in Ystrad Mynach - the number of dogs affected by the ban isn’t massive, but it’s still significant. Greyhound Rescue Wales, which is already near full capacity, expects an influx of discarded dogs. "We are working with other charities so that no greyhound will go without a home," said Lizzie Culpin, who helps rehabilitate ex-racers.

The industry claims to have a retirement scheme, where owners and GBGB pay a £420 bond to help with rehoming. But when you breed thousands of dogs each year and discard the ones who don’t make the cut, a few hundred pounds doesn’t go far. As Essex Havard put it: "The industry doesn’t care about dogs - only about winning and making money."

The end of greyhound racing in Wales is a victory. But until the rest of the UK follows suit, thousands of dogs will continue to be used, injured, and discarded. The demand for racing dogs must end, and that starts with shutting down the tracks for good.