The UK government responded to a petition seeking to end greyhound racing in the UK, rejecting the call. According to officials, the sport is a well-regulated economic contributor that benefits many people.

Petition Seeks an End to Greyhound Racing

The petition in question is called “Ban Greyhound Racing” and, as its name suggests, seeks to end the sport. Its authors argue that the sport kills hundreds of dogs every year and causes injuries to many more.

The petition cites statistics showing that, from 2017 to 2023, some 1,230 dogs died trackside. Additionally, roughly 31,000 dog injuries were recorded in the same time frame.

In addition to the dangers of racing, the petition expressed concern with the pace of breeding and the conditions in which dogs are being kept.

To make matters worse, a 2019 documentary estimated that up to 6,000 dogs are being put down every year for not being fast enough. Because of all these factors, the petition encouraged the UK government to follow Wales’s example and ban greyhound racing.

We believe no animal should suffer for sport or entertainment.

Ban greyhound racing petition

The Government Rejected the Call

On October 30, the UK government issued an official response in which the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs said that the UK doesn’t have any plans to ban greyhound racing.

The government considers it a well-regulated sport and recognises the contribution it makes to many people’s lives as well as to the economy.

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

The government acknowledged the petition’s concerns but pointed out that the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) is working hard to modernize the sport and improve the conditions of the dogs. Officials also noted that greyhound racing bodies are required to follow certain provisions on welfare standards both in kennels and on the field. These initiatives have led to a drastic decline in dog deaths. For example, official statistics say that 1,013 dogs died racing in 2017 – a figure that has declined to only 386 in 2024. The total number of dogs being put to sleep due to their injuries, on the other hand, has decreased from 333 in 2017, to only 3 in 2024.

In addition to improving standards, the GBGB has also introduced a Greyhound Retirement Scheme, ensuring that dogs that can no longer compete find a new home, where otherwise they might be put down.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs also noted that greyhound racing is Great Britain’s sixth most popular sport and that the sector provides jobs to some 5,400 people. In addition to that, greyhound racing is a major contributor to the UK’s cultural life and rural economy, the department said.

While the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs said that there are no plans to ban greyhound racing at the moment, it vowed to continue monitoring the GBGB’s progress to drive industry improvements.

In the meantime, a bipartisan federal bill in the United States is looking to abolish the sport.