What are the animal welfare issues with greyhound racing?

Although the greyhound racing industry has been recognised as providing some economic benefits, there has also been an increasing level of concern regarding both significant animal welfare issues [1,2] and societal impacts related to gambling [3]. If these concerns are not addressed adequately there is a serious risk to the future sustainability and community acceptability (social licence) of greyhound racing in Australia [4]. A consequence of this is the threat that the industry will no longer be able to operate, as has happened in New Zealand [5].

To produce enough greyhounds considered suitable for racing, many are bred but never race and must instead be rehomed. It has been estimated that 40 per cent of greyhounds will never race [1]. There is no publicly available, independently verified data across all jurisdictions on how many greyhounds born into the industry go on to race, or on outcomes for those who leave the industry. Unless breeding rates match the capacity for greyhounds leaving the industry to be rehomed, many healthy greyhounds will face an uncertain future where they may experience suffering. This oversupply problem can be exacerbated by financial incentives for breeding, appearance fees and the lure of prize money. 

The racing career for a greyhound is very short. Greyhounds usually start racing at about one-and-a-half years of age and are generally retired by two to five years of age, or earlier if they develop injuries or do not perform well. This high turnover of greyhounds places a very high demand for rehoming.

Injuries are very common in greyhound racing and are a major animal welfare issue as they cause pain, suffering and distress to the affected animals. Various types of injuries are regularly reported including serious bone fractures, lacerations and muscle injuries [6]. Other injuries sustained relate to physical over-exertion such as hypoxic fits (seizures due to a lack of oxygen), heat stress-related injury and collapsing post-race.  

Injury and death statistics are not published for all tracks nationally by the racing industry but based on available industry figures, the Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds calculated, in 2025 alone, 287 greyhounds were killed and 10,785 injured on Australian racetracks [7]. Of those who died, 119 were euthanased on track by veterinarians, while 168 were removed with severe injuries and subsequently died or were euthanased later. On average, racing killed five greyhounds every week and injured 30 every day.  

The first turn of the racetrack is a common site for accidents or collisions. However, many preventable injuries and deaths also occur within the ‘catching pen’ – this is an enclosed area located just beyond the finish line with the aim of safely containing greyhounds after a race and facilitating their retrieval by handlers. Injuries also occur during pre-training, training, trialling and non-TAB races; however, these statistics are generally not published. It is important to note that injuries may only be detected after race day, and these may not be formally recorded. 

Research conducted in Western Australia over a seven-year period (2017-2023) reported 281 race fatalities [6]. This gives an average of 40 greyhounds racing in Western Australia dying every year, an average death rate of 4.5 per cent of the number of greyhounds who raced. This study also found that 58 per cent of fractures occurred in the right hindlimb which is believed to be due to the increased force associated with curves when running in an anticlockwise direction. Younger greyhounds were more likely to suffer forelimb fractures which were thought to be associated with increased risk of collision with other greyhounds, considered to be due to their relative inexperience.  

Track design and maintenance are critical factors influencing the nature and severity of injuries, but the fundamental nature of greyhound racing, involving multiple greyhounds running at speed, also creates significant risk. There is a significant body of evidence on injury risk factors and strategies to reduce injuries to greyhounds [8], but many of the evidence-based recommendations have either not been widely implemented by the industry or have been found to be ineffective. For example, changing the track shape including reducing the camber or using straight instead of curved tracks; using grass tracks surface and reducing the number of greyhounds in each race. 

Many of the greyhound racing authorities in Australia have tried to implement different forms of rehabilitation/recovery schemes for greyhounds seriously injured on the track to provide financial support for veterinary treatment and post-injury therapies (e.g. Greyhound Recovery Initiative - Greyhound Care & Standards, Greyhound Care Scheme 2.0). However, these programs face significant limitations, including high costs and resource constraints, which can reduce access to adequate care. Long-term rehabilitation, multiple surgeries, on-going medical costs and/or behavioural changes further hinder successful rehoming, leaving many injured greyhounds at risk of euthanasia or prolonged confinement in rehoming facilities. The industry does not provide publicly available comprehensive data regarding what these rehabilitation schemes achieve in terms of greyhound welfare outcomes.

There is a lack of comprehensive published data on the lifetime outcomes for greyhounds born into the greyhound racing industry in most jurisdictions. There is a heavy reliance on self-reporting by industry participants, with virtually no independent verification of the data. This lack of transparency has significant ramifications in terms of tracking animal welfare outcomes in the industry.  

There is also a lack of effective oversight of the whole of life and post-racing outcomes for greyhounds, which can result in an inability to verify the status and whereabouts of greyhounds. This results in a lack of transparency and unreliable data which creates uncertainty about the fate of greyhounds who leave the industry. From the statistics available, significant concerns remain as to the fate of many greyhounds no longer required by the industry.  

In response to concerns about information buried in publicly accessible online registries, a University of Melbourne study has, for the first time, used agent assisted artificial intelligence (AI) to compile greyhound population data in the UK [9]. Using this AI method, information was collated from several public websites to allow rapid and comprehensive insights into animal welfare issues. The study showed that when industries like greyhound racing curate their own level of public transparency, this method can reveal what selective disclosure obscures.

Greyhounds are rejected by the industry for racing at various ages due to health conditions, poor performance, or injury. Suitable greyhounds will be passed onto industry adoption programs or voluntary adoption groups that rely heavily on community support, and others will remain with industry participants for rehoming. Many adopted greyhounds are also returned to rehoming programs, usually due to behavioural problems or a change in the owner’s circumstances. For example, in South Australia it is estimated that up to 25 per cent of greyhounds are returned, further exacerbating the challenges for adoption groups to find suitable homes [2].  

Due to the oversupply of greyhounds, there can be long periods of time that healthy greyhounds are kept in facilities awaiting adoption. Extended periods waiting to be rehomed increases the risk of physical health deteriorating and increased anxiety or stress-related behaviours. However, the industry does not report the numbers waiting to be rehomed or waiting times. 

There are significant concerns about greyhounds reported by industry participants as ‘kept as a pet’ or privately rehomed, because there is no independent verification of where they go, who receives them, or how they are cared for. There is little or no oversight by the industry in terms of the suitability of the new home and ongoing health care. Concerns remain that many of these greyhounds may be killed, but without auditable whole of life tracking, there is no assurance that every greyhound is assessed as suitable and rehomed to a loving family.

Many greyhound puppies and adult greyhounds are never adequately socialised, either with other dogs and pets or with other humans. They are also not exposed to the different sights, objects, surfaces, sounds and experiences that companion dogs are likely to encounter in their lives [10]. Dogs who are socially deprived are more likely to develop fearfulness and antisocial behaviour, which impacts negatively on their welfare. A lack of adequate socialisation may also make it more difficult to rehome retired or unwanted greyhounds. 

Inadequate housing conditions and a lack of environmental enrichment is another significant animal welfare issue for greyhounds as many are kept in small, barren, single-dog kennels for prolonged periods of time [10].

There are significant risks associated with the export of greyhounds. While approval through the Greyhound Passport System is mandatory, there have been a number of greyhounds who have slipped through the system without approval and end up being exported to countries with no legal animal welfare protections, putting them at significant risk of poor welfare outcomes.  

Because of the lack of oversight, some greyhounds have also ended up being used in unregulated or illegal racing operations overseas.

Various pharmaceutical substances have been administered to racing greyhounds in the quest for enhanced performance to win races. Racing authorities maintain a list of banned substances and run drug testing programs; however, drug use still occurs. Administration of banned substances is a serious animal welfare issue as many of these drugs can have serious physical and psychological effects on greyhounds. Greyhounds have tested positive to a range of substances including amphetamines, methamphetamines, caffeine, anabolic steroids, and Erythropoietin (EPO) [1].

Live baiting refers to the practice of using live animals for the purpose of training greyhounds. This practice is illegal in all states and territories in Australia. The animals used for baiting experience significant pain, fear, injury and distress. The same animals may be used repeatedly, suffering a very long and painful death. 

For many years, the RSPCA has held serious concerns about live baiting. These concerns were confirmed in the Four Corners ABC program which exposed live baiting in three states in 2015 [11]. Multiple greyhound trainers, including those with a high profile in the industry, were directly implicated in live baiting practices, indicating that animal cruelty was widespread and entrenched in the industry. Although steps have been taken to eliminate live baiting, including strengthening of penalties and increased surveillance, there continues to be reports, allegations, investigations and convictions of live baiting occurring in the greyhound racing industry.

In some jurisdictions, the greyhound racing industry is still overseen by the greyhound racing authority which is responsible for both the regulation of the industry and its commercial development, promotion and marketing. This self-regulatory model fails to ensure that the welfare of greyhounds is prioritised due to serious conflicts of interest, such as the use of financial incentives to promote greyhound breeding. This in turn increases the number of greyhounds unwanted by the industry. There is also a lack of specific mandated animal welfare standards for greyhounds in some jurisdictions. Where a separate integrity body exists, there are significant challenges in their capacity to monitor and enforce standards to adequately protect greyhound welfare.

Several jurisdictions have undertaken reviews or inquiries into greyhound racing over the past decade. In 2015, following a horrific exposé of live baiting by an ABC Four Corners program [11], a special commission of inquiry was set up in NSW to investigate the industry. The findings from the inquiry were extremely disturbing including that at least 50 per cent of greyhounds who were of no value to the industry were killed – an estimate of at least 48,000 greyhounds (but could be as high as 68,000) would have been killed between 2003-2015 [1].

The report acknowledged that it would be impossible for the industry to find homes for the estimated 3,000 greyhounds exiting the industry every year. Other problems highlighted included poor rearing and socialisation practices which caused fear and anxiety in young greyhounds, thus affecting their potential to be rehomed. In terms of live baiting, leading up to and at the time of the inquiry it was estimated that up to 20 per cent of trainers in NSW engaged in live baiting, that it was an accepted practice by industry participants and that the governing body, Greyhound Racing NSW took no steps to stamp it out.  

The report from the 2023 inquiry held in South Australia is also extremely damning and included over 70 recommendations [2]. The report noted that the industry had failed to implement reforms, lacks transparency and requires independent oversight in addition to the ongoing and significant animal welfare issues which must be addressed. The South Australian government appointed a reform inspector to oversee implementation of the recommendations. 

A parliamentary inquiry into greyhound racing in Western Australia in 2024 also revealed serious animal welfare concerns within the industry, including a 155 per cent rise in on-track greyhound deaths between the 2022 and 2023 financial years, despite significant investment in welfare measures [12]. Additionally, the inquiry identified a lack of transparency in the reporting and overall tracking of greyhound deaths and serious injuries. As recommended, a select committee was established to further investigate and report on animal welfare issues in the industry. A report from this inquiry is expected by the end of 2026.

There has been a decline in the industry worldwide through pressure from animal welfare and community groups due to the significant animal welfare issues inherent in greyhound racing and the negative societal impacts due to gambling. As a result, many countries that previously permitted greyhound racing have now moved to ban it. 

This leaves Australia as one of the last countries in the world where greyhound racing is still permitted, apart from the ACT, where it was banned in 2018. Greyhound racing was legally banned in Wales in April 2026 [13], followed by Scotland in May 2026 [14]. New Zealand is set to cease greyhound racing from 1 August 2026. 

In the United States, greyhound racing is illegal in 44 states and there are only two operational tracks remaining in West Virginia. In late April 2026, the U.S. House of Representatives voted for a national ban on commercial greyhound racing. If the law is passed, it would close the last two operating tracks in West Virginia and end commercial greyhound racing in the United States. As of early June 2026, the proposal is still with the Senate and has not yet become law. 

In Mexico, although there has not been a legislative ban on greyhound racing, the last track closed in 2024. In Vietnam, there has also been no legislative ban, but currently there are no commercial tracks operating. However, plans for a new track in Lam Dong have been approved. If the Lam Dong facility is completed and licensed for racing and betting, commercial greyhound racing could resume in Vietnam, but the timeline and regulatory finalisation remain uncertain.  

Therefore, once greyhound racing is closed in New Zealand in August 2026, the only remaining countries where commercial greyhound racing may still be operational will be Australia, Ireland and England.

Given the numerous unresolved animal welfare concerns associated with the sport, the RSPCA does not support greyhound racing. Where greyhound racing continues to be conducted, the RSPCA advocates the following: 

• The 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.
• The adoption of compulsory and enforced animal welfare standards for greyhounds at all life stages to eliminate practices that cause injury, pain, suffering or distress, and to ensure all greyhounds have a good quality of life.
• The adoption of formal processes to address oversupply and ‘wastage’ rates. There should be an expectation and formal processes in place within the industry that greyhounds will be rehomed as a companion animal on retirement and provisions made to ensure their welfare.
• The mandatory collection and publication of comprehensive lifecycle data, including 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 can be accounted for. 
• Systems must be implemented to ensure the robustness and transparency of the data gathered (e.g., independent auditing and regular inspections rather than a reliance on self-reporting).
• Continued investigations and surveillance for live baiting and other serious animal welfare offences, and enforcement of strong penalties for any animal welfare offences.
• Increased checks for banned substances and enforcement of strong penalties must be implemented and sustained.
• Injury rates need to be effectively addressed, racetrack safety improved to reduce injuries, and systems implemented to ensure greyhounds receive adequate treatment and rehabilitation if injured.
• Greyhounds must not be exported to other countries for racing.