RACING DEATH TO
HUNDREDS OF GREYHOUNDS DIE EVERY YEAR BECAUSE OF INJURIES SUSTAINED ON THE TRACK
N EARLY five greyhounds were killed every week while racing last year.
The Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) have revealed that some 257 dogs suffered fatal injuries at the track.
Deaths while racing can be caused by broken necks caused by colliding with other dogs or track walls.
A further 333 dogs were put to sleep because it was deemed too expensive to treat injuries they sustained while racing. Greyhound racing remains a popular gambling sport, with 25 tracks across the UK hosting around 70,000 races annually. An estimated £2.5 billion is gambled on races every year. Critics say the sport is cruel and exploitative, with greyhounds forced to train through daily galloping, walking and even swimming exercises. The data shows that as well as the 257 fatal injuries last year, greyhounds suffered 4,837 non-fatal injuries while racing. Those included 1,650 leg muscle injuries and 833 foot injuries.
After retirement, racing greyhounds can be rehomed by owners and trainers or through a charity.
Last year, 22 dogs were killed because no home could be found.
A further 270 were also put to sleep because they were deemed to be unsuitable for rehoming, while 121 died of natural causes according to GBGB.
Clarissa Baldwin, chairman of welfare charity the Greyhound Forum, said: “The statistics show that a great deal of work needs to be done to bring the greyhound industry into the 21st Century.
“The Forum is now calling for a radical review of the industry from breeding, ownership, kennels, training, retirement and funding.
“With the veterinary advancements of today’s world, it is totally unacceptable to euthanise dogs purely on economic grounds. It’s also very worrying that dogs put to sleep are often simply discarded based on cost alone.”
Dr Simon Gower, veterinary director for GBGB, said: “Sometimes the decision to put a dog to sleep is because the veterinary costs involved in treating the injury are simply unaffordable. “This is a problem faced by domestic pet owners across the country. “The GBGB believes that every racing greyhound that can be rehabilitated and homed should be, and if everyone that benefits financially from the sport met their responsibilities and contributed fairly, then this aspiration could become a reality.”