Greyhound racing involves greyhounds chasing an artificial lure around a race track. In Australia, greyhound racing is conducted at specialised tracks and betting on the race winner is a popular form of gambling. As with any sport involving animals, there is the potential for the animals involved to experience poor welfare or suffer injury, pain or distress as a result of training or competition.
There are a number of aspects of greyhound racing that concern the RSPCA. These are:
The lack of comprehensive regulation of greyhound racing (including breeding, rearing, training and competition) to eliminate practices that cause injury, suffering or distress.
The running of hurdle races for greyhounds as these types of races have a high risk of injury.
The level of over-breeding and oversupply of greyhounds in the industry. This is indicated by a high level of 'wastage' of greyhounds, ie animals that are bred for racing but do not go on to compete, or leave the industry early due to illness or injury. Wastage can occur at any stage of a greyhound’s life . Unfortunately, a large proportion of greyhounds that are deemed unsuitable for competitive racing, become injured, or are simply not considered fast enough, are euthanased.
RSPCA Australia supports initiatives to reduce the over-breeding and re-homing problems within the greyhound racing industry. While over-breeding and wastage occurs, there is a need to find homes for healthy greyhounds that have retired from racing or have been rejected by the industry. Greyhounds can make wonderful companions and most States have their own Greyhound Adoption Program which aims to rescue and rehome retired or unwanted racing greyhounds:
Please contact your State/Territory RSPCA inspectorate regarding any suspected and specific cases of cruelty against racing greyhounds.
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