Compassion News

Greyhound Racing in Modern Britain?

The International Society Against the Exploitations of Racing Animals – ISAERA - has produced a video entitled Greyhound Racing in Modern Britain? (Part One).

The video features Debra Rothery, founder of Tia Greyhound and Lurcher Rescue, giving an insight into greyhound rescue.

Debra also highlights how the  Animal Welfare Act, which came into force in January 2007, has not made a difference to the racing greyhound.

When the 2006 Animal Welfare Act was passed, the Government committed to implement secondary legislation under the Act in relation to racing greyhounds.  The secondary legislation on the regulations of the welfare of racing greyhounds is expected to come into force on 6 April 2010.  In 2009, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) will be issuing draft proposals on regulating the welfare of racing greyhounds. 

Recent correspondence from DEFRA indicates that the Government endorses the view that the racing industry has to introduce significant reform and is of the view that it must remain self-regulated, believing that the current Animal Welfare Act contains sufficient provision to prevent suffering and to raise welfare standards.

As the video rightly points out – we must make our voices heard during the public consultation period on the Secondary Legislation for the racing and retired greyhound.

Please click here to watch the video on the GreytExploitations website.

Please also ask your local rescue centre to contribute to Tia's Wall of Shame with details of any greyhounds they take into their care – thank you.   The Wall of Shame has been in operation for just over a year and lists 700 greyhounds and their condition at the time of rescue.

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