Charity calls for council rethink on new greyhound track

Animal welfare charity the League Against Cruel Sports is calling on City of Wolverhampton Council bosses to rethink their decision to allow a greyhound track in the city.

The national charity says the ‘sport’ is responsible for cruelty to greyhounds from cradle to grave, and as such should be outlawed in the UK.

The greyhound industry’s own figures show that 2,300 racing greyhounds died between 2018 and 2022, with 868 dying at the tracks themselves, and more than 22,000 injuries being sustained. 1

Emily Lawrence, campaign manager at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “The high number of deaths and injuries associated with greyhound racing shows the industry is inherently dangerous and flies in the face of animal welfare. We know this is just a small snapshot of the cruelty the dogs suffer.

“We are calling on the Wolverhampton’s councillors to look at these death and injury figures and reconsider their decision to allow this cruel sport to take place in the city.”

The most recent study conducted into greyhound racing established that dogs racing around oval tracks at great speeds put huge strain on the greyhounds’ bodies and made injuries almost inevitable. ²

As there are around only 15,000 racing greyhounds in the country at any one time, the figures indicate that many of these will end up being killed or injured.

The first bend at greyhound races is notorious for big pile-ups involving the dogs.

The League, along with a significant number of other animal welfare charities, is calling for greyhound racing to be phased out and for the animals to be found loving retirement homes.

Emily added: “We live in a nation of animal lovers and the people of Wolverhampton would be horrified to know that greyhound racing is arriving in the city once they understand the true death and injury toll the ‘sport’ exacts on the dogs.”

Ends

Notes to editors

1. 1. GBGB track injury and death data
2. 2. Injuries in racing greyhounds by Professor Andrew Knight

For more 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 and the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021. 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 sanctuaries to protect wildlife. Find out more about our work at www.league.org.uk. Registered charity in England and Wales (no.1095234) and Scotland (no.SC045533).