Greyhound racing causes significant welfare harm through injury rates, intensive kennel housing, and the fate of retired dogs, with bans and reforms progressing unevenly across different countries.
Greyhound racing presents a welfare paradox: dogs bred for exceptional athleticism are kept in conditions of extreme confinement for most of their lives, with welfare harms concentrated in track injuries and the fate of dogs who cannot race economically. The progress in Florida demonstrates that ballot initiative campaigns can succeed against entrenched industry interests when welfare evidence is effectively communicated. The adoption movement has transformed public perception of greyhounds and created a strong welfare constituency that supports reform. However, significant welfare problems persist in active racing jurisdictions where regulatory oversight remains weak and industry self-reporting is the primary accountability mechanism.