Greyhound racing causes thousands of injuries and deaths annually, with the welfare of retired dogs depending on robust rehoming programmes as the industry contracts globally.
Greyhound racing welfare encompasses both the immediate risks of injury and death during racing and the longer-term welfare of retired dogs whose fate is tied to the strength of rehoming infrastructure. The injury toll in racing is substantial and documented, with fractures and soft tissue injuries causing significant suffering. The fate of dogs when their racing careers end is even more variable: while many are successfully rehomed through organised programmes, the gap between dogs entering retirement and rehoming capacity leaves many in uncertain or harmful situations. The decline of commercial racing creates both a welfare problem — more dogs needing rehoming — and a welfare opportunity — fewer dogs being bred into the industry. Supporting greyhound rescue and rehoming is one of the most direct welfare interventions available to the public.