Concern for greyhounds being raced during heatwave

Animal welfare charity the League Against Cruel Sports has accused the greyhound racing industry of putting profits before the health of greyhounds by pushing ahead with racing during the current heatwave.

It comes as the RSPCA urges dog owners to make an urgent change to their routines this coming week as another spell of extremely hot weather will see temperatures reaching 34C.

Emily Lawrence, campaigns manager at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “Greyhound racing is already inherently hazardous, but to race greyhounds in extreme hot weather is putting them in danger and is in clear breach of animal welfare advice.

“The greyhound racing industry is putting its own interests and gambling company profits before the welfare of the dogs.

“It’s time for change and for the UK Government to follow the lead of the Scottish and Welsh governments which are banning the sport, and to ban greyhound racing in England.”

Dog welfare experts at the RSPCA have been urging all dog owners to instigate a temporary lockdown over the next few days as soaring temperatures present a real risk to dogs, something which the greyhound racing industry has failed to respond to and carried on racing.

Meanwhile, new death and injury figures have been published – which the government stipulates that the greyhound racing’s governing body the Greyhound Board of Great Britain release every year – and paint a bleak picture.

The number of greyhounds euthanised at British greyhound tracks rose to 161 deaths in 2025, an increase of 31 per cent on the previous year, and the highest number since 2020.

A total of 3,648 greyhound injuries were recorded during 2025 bringing the total of injuries up to 38,816 since 2017 when figures started being published. The trackside death toll since 2017 has now reached 1,518.

A report issued this spring 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.

In Wales and Scotland, two landmark bills banning greyhound racing were passed by the Welsh and Scottish parliaments earlier this year.

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

Emily added: “Racing greyhounds in soaring temperatures is yet another example of how the greyhound industry is failing the dogs and putting their lives and health at risk.

“We are calling on the public to take action and sign up to our campaign to end greyhound racing in England for good.”

Readers can sign up to the campaign to ban greyhound racing in England here.

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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).