What about animal welfare concerns around greyhound racing? - Yorkshire Post Letters

Abbie MacGregor, in her article on behalf of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain on August 27, tries to paint a picture of a sport - Greyhound racing - which is "fast, exciting and inexpensive".

Inexpensive to humans, that is, but very definitely expensive in terms of the cruelty and lives of the dogs themselves. Indeed, she does not refer at all to the dogs concerned, only to the human beings involved.

Greyhounds whose lives (if they are allowed to live and not euthanased - i.e. killed - such as ‘surplus’ puppies and those who do not make the grade) are treated like machines and mostly live in very poor conditions with little or no comfort or enrichment. Little or nothing is done to help animals injured whilst racing or training, who are often killed trackside without being given any chance of recovery or rehoming.

And don't believe those who say they are not suitable for rehoming. If given the chance, rescued Greyhounds can make wonderful companions for their adopters.

Is it any wonder that reputable animal welfare organisations such as the RSPCA, Blue Cross, the League Against Cruel Sports and many others, are campaigning for Greyhound racing to be banned?

The RSPCA records that from 2017 to 2025 there were 38,000 deaths and injuries to greyhounds involved in this ‘sport’, with 1,514 of the total 4,399 deaths being at the trackside.

And is it any wonder that Abbie MacGregor clearly did not dare to mention the dogs themselves?