Greyhound racing has declined significantly in many countries following welfare concerns about injuries, euthanasia of non-performing dogs, and poor kenneling conditions. Understanding the welfare issues informs ongoing advocacy.
Greyhound racing welfare concerns span the entire lifecycle of racing dogs: kennel-intensive housing that restricts social and behavioral expression, injury risk during racing, and the fate of dogs who cannot race profitably. The rapid decline of the industry in democratic countries that have put welfare to a vote reflects the outcome when the public fully understands what greyhound racing involves. The welfare movement now has the opportunity to focus on ensuring that the thousands of greyhounds currently in the racing industry receive appropriate retirement through adoption programs, and that the remaining legal racing jurisdictions are held to welfare standards that minimize suffering during the industry's contraction.