The government of New Zealand announced on Tuesday that it would outlaw greyhound racing beginning in 2026 due to the high number of racing dog injuries and deaths.
Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister and Racing Minister, told reporters, “The time has come to make a call in the best interest of the animals, as the percentage of dogs being injured remains persistently high, despite significant progress made by the greyhound racing industry in recent years.”
Only a small number of nations, including the US, Australia, Britain, and Ireland, still permit commercial greyhound racing.
The way the racing dogs are treated has drawn more attention to the profession in recent years. Peters stated that canine injuries and fatalities were still “unacceptably high,” despite the industry’s attempts to improve.
Greyhound Racing New Zealand (GRNZ) chairman Sean Hannan described the ruling as a “devastating blow” to a sector that has invested much in reform.
“The government’s failure to acknowledge the industry’s efforts to address areas of concern, to the extent that it now leads the wider racing industry with its commitment to animal welfare, is a great disappointment,” he said in a statement.
Hannan went on to say, “This decision affects families, businesses, and communities who have dedicated their lives to caring for and racing greyhounds; it is not just about the sport.” The sector employs over 1,000 people, Hannan added.
While legislation to completely ban greyhound racing will be tabled next year and phased down over the next 20 months, the government on Tuesday suggested a measure to stop the needless slaughter of racing dogs. According to Peters, the greyhound racing sector will have the opportunity to submit comments about the proposal.
Additionally, he said that the government will rehome around 2,900 racing dogs in collaboration with animal welfare organizations. Animal advocacy organizations applauded the government’s choice.
“Thank you to the people of New Zealand, the experts, and the proof. In a statement, SPCA chief scientific officer Dr. Arnja Dale expressed gratitude for clearing the path for these canines to lead fulfilling lives. “After years of being given numerous “last chances,” we are relieved and ecstatic that GRNZ has been ordered to close this business.”
The revelation “inspires the very few remaining countries who still have a commercial greyhound industry to follow New Zealand’s brave example,” she continued.
