The League's Greyhound Manifesto
Posted 1st January 2016
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has already committed itself to a review of the Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations in 2015 and we believe that genuine improvements in greyhound welfare will only be achieved if the below recommendations are implemented in full.
Our greyhound manifesto
- Five year review by Parliament in public
The five year review of the Statutory Instrument should be open to the public with the power of Parliament to direct organisations to disclose information. A Select Committee review of the effectiveness of the current governance arrangements could call witnesses from greyhound racing and animal welfare organisations.
- Independent greyhound welfare regulation
An independent welfare regulatory body that oversees all greyhound racing (both licenced and independent) and includes representatives from animal welfare organisations.
- Welfare transparency
The industry should be required by law to disclose information on greyhound welfare, at national and track level, to the public and an independent regulator on a quarterly basis. It should as a minimum include breeding, import/export of dogs, transport, kennelling, racing, injuries, retirement, rehoming and euthanasia. There should be full public disclosure of all regulatory and enforcement activity within the industry.
- Drugs controls
The use of testosterone to suppress oestrus, and anabolic steroids, should be prohibited.
- Track curbs
A moratorium of new tracks opening, or old tracks reopening, so the decline of the industry can be managed in such a way that greyhound welfare is not compromised.
- Greyhound passports
A system that allows the tracking of every dog from birth so that the enigma of the thousands of missing dogs can be ended.
- Rehoming requirements
A statutory requirement for tracks, trainers and owners to rehome all greyhounds.
- Breeding controls
The introduction of a licensing regime for British breeders together with join initiatives between DEFRA and the devolved nations of the United Kingdom and Irish government to tackle issues of overbreeding and the trade in greyhounds.