Members of senedd back greyhound campaign

A CHARITY-FRONTED campaign to end greyhound racing has been backed by Members of the Senedd.

The Pontyclun-based centre aims for their petition to be the most signed in Wales.

Now, Mick Antoniw MS for Pontypridd has shown his support after adopting two greyhounds himself, named Eddie and Elsie.

In a message shared across his social media accounts, he wrote: “I support Hope Rescue’s campaign to ban greyhound racing in Wales.

“Every year, hundreds of hounds suffer injury, mutilation and death as a result of being forced to race, with many being ‘put down’ because of the high cost of medical treatment, or because suitable homes could not be found for them.

“These beautiful, docile and loving animals deserve better.”

Back in September, Jane Dodds, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats and MS for Mid and West Wales shared a picture of her ex racing Greyhound Arthur.

She also called for an end to greyhound racing in Wales in the Senedd, saying her own had an injured neck from its racing days.

Alex Davies-Jones, MP for Pontypridd and Taff Ely also showed her support on Twitter, quoting a Hope Rescue tweet and adding: “This cannot be allowed to continue! #bangreyhoundracing.”

There is currently only one independent greyhound race track in Wales, Valley Greyhounds in Ystrad Mynach.

A spokesperson from Valley Greyhounds said: “Out of 4,652 runs by greyhounds in races during the period of The Valley’s association with Hope Rescue, only 24 greyhounds suffered a serious injury (typically, a bone fracture) during a race.

“This represents a serious injury rate of only 0.5 per cent.”