Greyhound racing involves significant injury rates and poor retirement outcomes for thousands of dogs, prompting bans in many jurisdictions and ongoing welfare reform efforts.
Greyhound racing injuries include bone fractures, tendon tears, lacerations, and cardiac events that cause significant pain and sometimes death on or near the track. Dogs that develop injuries that prevent racing often face uncertain futures. Even without injuries, the intensive confinement between races — hours in small crates with limited social interaction — is poorly matched to the social needs of a pack-oriented species. Supply management failures have historically resulted in large-scale euthanasia of healthy, adoptable dogs.