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 Welcome to the News desk.
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| Greyhound Racing to be banned in Wales |
27/02/25 |
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 Editor |
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| • Greyhound racing will be banned "as soon as practically possible", the Welsh
government has said |
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Wales will become the first nation in the UK to ban greyhound racing.
It comes after a petition to ban the sport in Wales received over 35,000 signatures,
resulting in a Welsh Government consultation which received over 1100 responses, with two thirds being in favour of the ban.
The news of the Welsh
government's intended action to phase out the sport from Wales comes just 2 months after an almost identical decision to ban the racing of greyhounds in New
Zealand where the sport has existed since the late 19th century.
Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies announced plans to wind down the sport, which
has been criticised for harming dogs. No timeline has been announced for the ban, but Irranca-Davies said it is not "impossible" it could come in before the
next Welsh Parliament election in May 2026.
Wales only has one dog-racing track: the Valley
Stadium in Ystrad Mynach.
Huw Irranca-Davies said, "There will be work to do in ensuring the dogs, their owners, and those involved in the industry
around the racetrack, can wind down from this activity while still protecting the welfare of dogs currently within the industry, the local community and the
local economy.” .
Many animal welfare charities have campaigned for this change. Vanessa Waddon, Chief Executive Officer of Hope Rescue has
responded to the Deputy First Minister statement by saying, “we’re delighted that the Welsh Government have agreed that the only way to fully protect
greyhounds is to end this inherently dangerous activity.”
However, the Chief Executive of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, Mark Bird has
responded to the statement saying this news is ‘hugely disappointing’.
“This announcement has nothing to do with greyhound welfare and
everything to do with pressure from the extreme animal rights movement.
“Questions should be asked as to why, despite repeated requests, the
minister has failed to meet with the industry in Wales.”
Those in support of the ban cited reasons of animal welfare and a belief that the industry
is "unethical". Key issues included injuries to animals, overbreeding, and a desire to prevent unnecessary suffering and deaths.
However respondents who
oppose the ban argued it would have a negative economic and cultural impact, with many worried that this would set the precedent for banning other animal
sports, such as horse racing.
No date has been announced for a Welsh ban, but the deputy first minister said: "I want a ban to come into force as soon
as practicably possible.
"There will be work to do in ensuring the dogs, their owners, and those involved in the industry around the racetrack, can
wind down from this activity while still protecting the welfare of dogs currently within the industry, the local community and the local economy."
Wales
would be the first UK nation to ban the sport.
A Welsh Conservative spokesman said: "While there are various views on the banning of greyhound racing in
Wales, it is important that any changes are taken forward in a way that engages stakeholders and is fair."
Hefin David, the Labour MS for Caerphilly
whose constituency covers the Ystrad Mynach track, raised concerns about what will happen with the land.
David said on social media platform X: "The
track is on a flood plain. I understand the owners introduced flood mitigation, as well as clearing up flooding.
"A ban would mean derelict land on a
flood plain adjacent to my constituency."
He said the implementation group must look at any financial commitment required to remediate the land. Asked
by BBC Wales if he was considering compensating anyone in the industry, Irranca-Davies said that is not an "issue we are considering at all". |
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