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The government has responded to calls to ban greyhound racing after more than 10,000 people signed a petition online condemning the sport. The petition, on the Parliament Petitions website, called on the government to ban greyhound racing to prevent dogs from being injured and killed. Creator Michelle Masterton-Smith said it was time for the UK government to "follow Wales and ban this cruel sport". The Welsh government confirmed earlier this year that greyhound racing is set to be banned in the nation, while the Scottish government is also supporting a ban on the sport. The petition claims that 1,230 dogs died trackside between 2017 and 2023, while there were over 31,000 injuries and "many more were destroyed". The petition said the greyhound racing industry "breeds more dogs than are needed for racing" and the creators are "concerned that dogs live in poor kennel conditions, and overbreeding creates a surplus, overwhelming rescue centres". It added: "A 2019 RTÉ documentary estimated up to 6,000 greyhounds are killed annually for not being fast enough. There are concerns about greyhounds being exported to countries with poor welfare laws. "We believe no animal should suffer for sport or entertainment." The petition has now racked up nearly 14,000 signatures. The government must issue a response to a petition when it gets more than 10,000 signatures . If more than 100,000 people sign it, it will be considered for debate in Parliament. In its response, the government stated that there are "no plans" to ban greyhound racing across the UK. Greyhound racing is a "well-regulated sport" and contributes "to many people’s lives as well as the economy", it said. The government said there had been "improvements to greyhound welfare" and that the sport is covered by the Animal Welfare Act, which allows "action to be taken where there is evidence of cruelty to an animal". In addition, regulations state that a vet must be present at races and injuries must be recorded, the government said. The response, issued by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), states: "The government has no plans to ban greyhound racing. While the government recognises the concerns some people have about greyhound racing, there is legislation in place to protect the welfare of racing greyhounds in England and a regulatory body – the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) – that has made many improvements to greyhound welfare. "The government also recognises the important contribution greyhound racing makes to the country’s cultural life and its rural economy, providing some 5,400 jobs across Great Britain as well as being the sixth most popular sport in terms of viewership. "The welfare of racing greyhounds in England is covered by the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations 2010. The 2006 Act allows action to be taken where there is evidence of cruelty to an animal or a failure to provide for an animal’s welfare needs. "This includes where greyhounds are raced at tracks or kept at trainers’ kennels. Further to these general provisions, welfare standards at all English greyhound tracks are set by the 2010 Regulations. "The 2010 Regulations include the requirement that all tracks must have a vet present while dogs are running, who must inspect each greyhound intended to run in every race, trial, or sales trial to ensure that the greyhound is fit to run. Temperature-controlled kennelling must also be provided at the track, and all racing greyhounds must be permanently identified. Tracks must also keep records of any injuries sustained to greyhounds while at the track. "Standards in the 2010 Regulations can be enforced either by the local authority or by GBGB. GBGB’s ability to regulate track standards in the 2010 Regulations is allowed for in law because they are accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). "UKAS is the UK’s National Accreditation Body, recognised by the government as the sole UK organisation for the accreditation of certification and inspection bodies. UKAS provides independent, external oversight of GBGB’s performance as a regulator of track standards." The statement continues: "In addition, GBGB has also introduced several welcome welfare initiatives. In collaboration with animal welfare groups, the GBGB has developed a set of detailed welfare standards for trainers’ kennels, which are then verified at trainers’ kennels by independent auditors, with this process also accredited by UKAS. On average, GBGB licensed kennels will be inspected three times a year by GBGB staff, as well as by a vet and an independent inspector. "The GBGB has also introduced a Greyhound Retirement Scheme to contribute towards rehoming costs; as well as an Injury Recovery Scheme to provide financial support to trainers to treat career-ending injuries to greyhounds, where otherwise they might be put to sleep. "In 2022, the GBGB published its long term, national welfare strategy: ‘A Good Life for Every Greyhound’. The strategy focuses not only on further reducing risks of injury but also developing and implementing new management practices to improve the welfare of greyhounds throughout their lives, including after racing. "Since 2018 GBGB have published yearly, independently audited injury, fatality and retirement figures. The overall, long-term trend for injuries and fatalities for racing greyhounds since 2018 has shown significant improvements. For example: the total number of GBGB registered greyhounds reported to have died has declined from 1013 deaths in 2017, to 386 in 2024; and the total number of greyhounds put to sleep due to the costs of treating injuries has fallen from 333 in 2017, to 3 in 2024." It concludes: "Given the work being undertaken to improve greyhound welfare, and the protections in place, the government does not believe it is necessary to ban greyhound racing. However, the government will continue to monitor GBGB’s progress and, should further measures and protections be required, the government will consider options that are targeted, effective, and proportionate." It comes after the Scottish Government confirmed it will back new legislation to end greyhound racing in Scotland – with ministers saying there are “genuine risks” to dogs from the sport. Agriculture minister Jim Fairlie said the Scottish Government would support the general principles of a member’s Bill from Green MSP Mark Ruskell to ban it. The legislation seeks to make it an offence to operate a racing track for greyhounds, and for a dog owner to race their animal on one. Meanwhile, the Welsh Government announced in February this year that greyhound racing will be banned there “as soon as practically possible”. The Prohibition of Greyhound Racing (Scotland) Bill has already been backed by animal rights organisations. Dog's Trust is one of the organisations that opposes greyhound racing and works closely with the Greyhound industry to try and improve welfare standards. On its website it claims: "All dogs deserve to live a full, happy life, free from the threat of injury or death. That's why we, together with the RSPCA and Blue Cross, are calling for a phased end to the sport, which should be feasible within five years. This is the only way we can secure good lives for these dogs. "We’ve worked closely with the Greyhound industry for many years to try to improve welfare conditions for the dogs, but progress has not been made quickly enough, or on a big enough scale. It is simply not acceptable that at least 2,000 greyhounds died over the last four years, all in the name of entertainment. "We are fully committed to the welfare of all Greyhounds affected by our call for a phased end to the sport."
