Tens of thousands of greyhounds are retired from racing each year. Their welfare depends on adequate rehoming infrastructure and industry accountability.
Greyhound welfare during racing is affected by intensive training regimes, transportation, and kennelling conditions. Post-racing, the welfare challenge shifts to rehoming: tens of thousands of dogs need new homes annually and the capacity of rehoming organisations is stretched. Dogs that are not rehomed may be euthanised or, in less regulated markets, abandoned. The welfare case for mandatory industry funding of rehoming programmes is strong - the racing industry creates the supply of retired dogs and bears responsibility for their outcomes. Public adoption of retired greyhounds is one of the most direct individual actions to improve greyhound welfare.