New Zealand to ban greyhound racing over animal welfare concerns
The New Zealand government said Tuesday that it would ban greyhound racing starting in 2026, citing concerns over the rate of injuries and fatalities among racing dogs.
The New Zealand government said Tuesday that it would ban greyhound racing starting in 2026, citing concerns over the rate of injuries and fatalities among racing dogs.
“Despite significant progress made by the greyhound racing industry in recent years, the percentage of dogs being injured remains persistently high and the time has come to make a call in the best interest of the animals,” Deputy Prime Minister and Racing Minister Winston Peters told reporters.
Commercial greyhound racing remains legal in only a few countries around the world, including the United States, Australia, Britain and Ireland.
The industry has come under growing scrutiny in recent years over the treatment of the racing dogs. While Peters acknowledged the efforts the industry had made to improve, he said canine injuries and fatalities remained “unacceptably high.”
Sean Hannan, chairman of Greyhound Racing New Zealand (GRNZ), said the decision was a “devastating blow” to an industry that had made significant investments in reform.
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