The Welsh Government has committed to banning greyhound racing, a move hailed as a major victory for dog welfare by Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity.

The charity, which has rehoming centres in Cardiff and Bridgend, welcomed the announcement as a crucial step in protecting racing greyhounds from injury and death.

Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies confirmed the government’s commitment to ending the sport in Wales. Reacting to the news, Owen Sharp, Chief Executive of Dogs Trust, said:

“The announcement that the Welsh Government is committed to ending greyhound racing marks a significant step forward for animal welfare. Over the past six years, more than 2,700 dogs have lost their lives in the UK in the name of entertainment, with many more suffering serious or life-changing injuries. This is unacceptable, and we are pleased the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) is ready and willing to take decisive action to prevent further deaths and injuries.

“The UK joins just four other countries worldwide where this cruel so-called sport still persists. With Wales now committed to ending greyhound racing, it’s time England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland followed suit and put a stop to this inhumane form of entertainment once and for all.”

Since 2018, over 2,700 greyhounds have died or been put to sleep as a result of racing injuries in the UK. Dogs Trust, along with the Cut the Chase coalition, which includes RSPCA Cymru, Blue Cross, Greyhound Rescue Wales, and Hope Rescue, has long campaigned to bring greyhound racing to an end. The coalition argues that the sport exposes dogs to unacceptable risks, with many sustaining serious, sometimes fatal, injuries while racing.

Greyhound racing is inherently dangerous, as dogs running at high speeds around oval tracks frequently suffer broken bones and other severe injuries. According to the latest data from the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB), 359 greyhounds died or were put to sleep last year alone, while 4,238 suffered recorded injuries—a 47% increase from the previous year.

Beyond track-related injuries, concerns have also been raised about the overall welfare of racing greyhounds, including poor kennelling conditions, inadequate diets, and a lack of enrichment. Campaigners have also highlighted issues within the greyhound racing industry, such as ineffective oversight, lack of transparency, and weak enforcement of welfare regulations.

With Wales leading the way in banning the sport, pressure is mounting on the rest of the UK to follow suit and put an end to greyhound racing nationwide.