Working and Sport Animals

Greyhound Racing Welfare: Injuries, Retirement, and Reform

Greyhound racing exposes dogs to significant injury risk and raises welfare concerns around kennel conditions, early retirement, and what happens to dogs after their racing careers end.

Key Facts

Welfare Considerations

Greyhound racing welfare concerns span the full career of the dog: intensive training and racing from young adulthood, kennel-based housing that restricts natural behaviour, injury risk during races, and the challenge of post-racing rehoming for a large, specialised breed. Regulatory reform has improved conditions in some jurisdictions — mandatory track vet attendance, injury reporting, and retirement planning requirements have raised baseline standards. The industry continues to contract as gambling revenues decline and public welfare concern increases.

What You Can Do