RSPCA Policy C06 Greyhound racing

The RSPCA recognises that there are clearly established, entrenched, and significant issues which compromise the welfare of greyhounds bred and used for racing and that the industry must take urgent and effective action to resolve these including; over-supply of dogs; injuries and physical overexertion; deficiencies in housing, socialisation, environmental enrichment and training; illegal live baiting; administration of banned or unregistered substances; live export and the fate of unwanted greyhounds (with high wastage and high euthanasia rates).

Until all these problems are recognised and effectively resolved, the RSPCA does not support greyhound racing.

Where greyhound racing continues to be conducted, the RSPCA advocates for the following:

• Comprehensive regulation of greyhound racing by an independent body with a formal and complete separation of the integrity and regulatory functions from the commercial functions.
• Adoption of mandatory and enforced animal welfare standards for greyhounds at all life stages to eliminate practices that cause injury, pain, suffering, or distress and ensure all greyhounds have a good quality of life.
• Adoption of formal processes to address over-supply and wastage rates. There should be an expectation and formal processes in place within the industry that greyhounds will be rehomed as companion animals on retirement and provisions made to ensure their welfare.
• Mandatory collection and publication of comprehensive lifecycle (birth to death records) and injury statistics and the development of a national identification and traceability system for all greyhounds to ensure each greyhound born is accounted for.
• Implementation of appropriate key performance indicators to assess the industry’s progress in achieving better welfare outcomes for greyhounds.

Hurdle races

The RSPCA is opposed to hurdle races for greyhounds because of the inherent risk of injury, pain, suffering, or distress.

Live baiting

The RSPCA supports legislation and enforcement that effectively prevents the use of live animals or any part of an animal as bait or a lure.

Blood collection

Blood collection must not be regarded as a justification for the euthanasia of greyhounds.

Racing in hot weather

Greyhounds must not be raced in hot weather because of the risk of suffering, or distress.

The RSPCA advocates that a maximum wet bulb temperature (predicted temperature and humidity), are mandated (based on scientific evidence and local conditions) beyond which race meetings are cancelled to prevent greyhounds experiencing heat stress.

Artificial insemination

The RSPCA opposes the use of surgical artificial insemination in greyhounds as it is unnecessary and detrimental to the welfare of the animal concerned.

Ear tattooing

The RSPCA opposes the use of ear tattooing in greyhounds unless it is done with appropriate anaesthesia and analgesia administered and monitored by a registered veterinarian.