Greyhound racing raises serious welfare concerns including high injury rates, poor living conditions, and the mass euthanasia of dogs that fail to perform. Reform efforts are growing globally.
The greyhound racing industry's welfare record has been a central factor in its decline in many jurisdictions. High injury rates, excessive confinement, and the fate of dogs that underperform collectively represent serious welfare compromises. Ex-racing greyhounds are often excellent companion animals - calm, gentle, and adaptable - and adoption programs have demonstrated that the transition to pet life is highly successful. Reform advocates emphasize transparent injury reporting, mandatory retirement age limits, and industry-funded adoption programs as minimum standards where racing continues.