Greyhound racing should be banned in Wales, says committee

Greyhound racing could be banned in Wales after a Senedd committee called for it to be gradually outlawed.

A majority of members on the petitions committee agreed with the 35,000 people who signed a petition calling for it to be banned.

Members also called for a review into other sports involving animals.

The Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) said it was "disappointed" while the Welsh government said it would consider the recommendation.

There is only one greyhound race track remaining in Wales.

Vanessa Waddon, the owner of Llanharan-based dog charity Hope Rescue, which launched the petition, said she was delighted.

"It has lost its social licence to operate. The public agree that greyhounds deserve our protection.

"They are not collateral damage. We don't want to see dogs injured or dying for sport."

The committee's report said the evidence provided by Valley Greyhounds "suggests the track is no more dangerous than any other".

Valley Greyhounds in Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly county, is Wales' last remaining greyhound track and hosts meets once a week.

The track has applied to Caerphilly council for planning permission to expand its facilities as part of the bid for a licence from the Greyhound Board for Great Britain.

An initial application for extension to the grandstand and clubhouse was refused last month by the council and a second application is being considered, although no date has been set for a decision.

Malcolm Tams, manager of Valley Greyhounds said he had plans to open a greyhound re-homing centre at his track.

He said: "There will be no burden on any rescue centre whatsoever, it will all be dealt with in-house".

Mr Tams said that he feared banning greyhound racing would force it underground, into so called "flip meetings".

He added: "If you ban greyhound racing, people who still want to race greyhounds will hold flip meetings in fields, like they did years ago, and this will drive it underground.

"Like the whippets do now and lurchers, they don't race on these tracks, they race in fields - there will be more injuries to greyhounds."

Hope Rescue claims to have rescued almost 200 dogs associated with Valley Greyhounds since 2018, though the track disputes this.

The charity previously worked alongside Valley Greyhounds, but has since adopted a policy calling for all greyhound racing to be banned.

Ms Waddon said the industry was fuelling the breeding of excess dogs that would likely require help from charities in later life, adding pressure to an already-stretched sector.

"Once a dog stops racing, they then need to find a rescue [centre] that can take it in for rehoming," she said.

Four of the five members of the committee said they were in favour of a phased ban, with Conservative Member of the Senedd MS Joel James saying he favoured tightening existing regulation instead.

Despite advocating for a ban, the report acknowledged such a move would have a financial impact on the Valleys Greyhounds Stadium and Ystrad Mynach.

It recommended undertaking a widespread consultation before implementing any changes.

GBGB said: "We are disappointed that four members of the petitions committee are in favour of a ban on greyhound racing in Wales.

"As their report makes very clear in its recommendations, however, there are a number of strong alternatives which would allow the sport to continue in a fully regulated environment, thus protecting the welfare of dogs, the jobs and livelihoods of those involved in the sport and the revenue contribution the sport makes to the economy."

The report added that greyhound racing was "not the only sport where animals race for the entertainment of humans" and that all such sports should be looked at.

The GBGB said the recommendation was a warning to industries like horse racing, fishing and pigeon racing and their sport was "the thin end of the wedge".

The Welsh government said: "Our ambition is for all animals in Wales to have a good quality life.

"We recognised there are concerns relating to the welfare of racing greyhounds and we will give careful consideration to the committee's recommendations."