Greyhound racing involves significant welfare risks from injury, intensive confinement, and the fate of dogs when their racing career ends.
Greyhound racing welfare encompasses multiple concerns across the racing career. The injury rate during racing — including serious fractures requiring euthanasia — is a welfare harm intrinsic to high-speed racing. Kennel confinement for 20+ hours daily is inadequate for a breed requiring significant exercise and social interaction. The waste of dogs whose racing performance declines — often still young and healthy — creates a surplus population that has historically resulted in abandonment or euthanasia. The greyhound adoption movement has significantly improved outcomes for retired racers and demonstrated that ex-racing greyhounds make excellent companions, which has increased public sympathy for welfare reform. Several jurisdictions have banned the industry based on welfare grounds, while others continue with varying standards.