Campaigners march to end greyhound racing after 100 years of suffering

Animal welfare campaigners took to the streets of central London today to call on the government to ban the “inherently dangerous” sport of greyhound racing in England.

The Century of Suffering: March to End Dog Racing Now was organised to highlight the scale of pain and suffering greyhounds have faced at the hands of the greyhound racing industry since the first race took place 100 years ago.

It follows landmark moves by the Welsh and Scottish parliaments earlier this year to ban greyhound racing in both Wales and Scotland.

Figures released last month – which the government stipulates that the greyhound racing’s governing body the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) release every year – show that 161 greyhounds died racing last year, an increase of 31 per cent on the previous year and the highest number since 2020.

The trackside death toll has now reached 1,518 since 2017 when figures were first published, and the same figures show a shocking 38,816 injuries suffered by racing greyhounds during that period.

The event was organised by members of a new coalition called Greyhound Freedom UK which includes Animal Aid, Gamban, Grey2K USA Worldwide, the League Against Cruel Sports, and Shut Down Campaigns.

Natalie Bennett, Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle, who spoke at the rally, said: “Today we celebrate the progress in Wales and Scotland in banning greyhound racing and demand England catch up and bring in a greyhound racing ban here.

“The focus is often on the dogs that are injured and killed but we must also not forget that they spend 95 per cent of their lives confined in kennels and suffering, which is unacceptable in terms of animal welfare.”

Will Morton, head of public affairs at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “Greyhound racing is inherently dangerous and causes extensive pain and suffering to the dogs, so we need urgent action.

“We call on the UK government to follow the progress made by other governments around the world and ban greyhound racing in England, and live up to its pledge to deliver the most ambitious animal welfare reforms in a generation.”

Sean Gifford, chief executive at Animal Aid, said: ““Today has been an important step towards ending greyhound racing in England. Very few nations worldwide still tolerate such a cruel practice and if action is not taken urgently, England risks being the last country on the planet in which dogs are raced, injured, and killed for sport."

Norb Gordon, the founder of Shut Down Campaigns, said: “'Greyhounds, like the dogs many of us share our homes with, have their own personalities and desires, and deserve comfy sofas in loving homes.

“Instead, they are confined to barren kennels that overheat in the summer and freeze in the winter, and are forced to race around dangerous tracks that claim far too many lives.”

The march started outside the offices of the GBGB in central London before finishing at Parliament Square in Westminster.

A report launched earlier this year at parliament by GREY2K USA Worldwide and the League Against Cruel Sports – Reaching the Finish Line; Time to end dog racing in the UK – highlighted the inherently dangerous nature of racing greyhounds around oval tracks.

The report also highlighted overbreeding, a poor quality of life for greyhounds kept in kennels for up to 95 per cent of the time, and the challenges in finding homes for the dogs once they retire.

Three greyhounds tragically died at residential kennels attached to Star Pelaw greyhound track during the recent heatwave.

Greyhound racing is being phased out in New Zealand this year and is now illegal in 42 states in the USA.

The ban on greyhound racing in Wales could come into force as early as April 2027.

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Notes to editors

For information or interview requests, please contact the League Against Cruel Sports Press Office on 01483 524250 or email pressoffice@league.org.uk

The League Against Cruel Sports is Britain's leading charity that works to stop animals being persecuted, abused and killed for sport. The League was instrumental in helping bring about the landmark Hunting Act 2004, the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021, the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023 and bans on the use of snares brought about by the Agriculture (Wales) Act 2023, and Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024.

We carry out investigations to expose law-breaking and cruelty to animals and campaign for stronger animal protection laws and penalties. We work to change attitudes and behaviour through education and manage wildlife reserves. Find out more about our work at www.league.org.uk. Registered charity in England and Wales (no.1095234) and Scotland (no.SC045533).