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The Next Few Weeks Are Crucial – The Greyhounds Need Your Help!

Two critical initiatives are live right now and Greyhound Compassion supporters have a role to play in one of them before the end of the year…..

DEFRA is conducting a five year review of the Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations (introduced in 2010). We are encouraging our supporters to respond to its public consultation before the deadline of 31 December 2015. The League Against Cruel Sports has published an excellent factsheet which will help you complete the consultation questions.

Whilst we believe that greyhound racing has no place in a modern society, the Government has stated clearly that it does not consider greyhound racing to be cruel and it will not countenance a ban. We must therefore lobby for significant welfare improvements to safeguard the greyhounds. Please do participate in the Government’s consultation before the end of the year.

 

In parallel the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee has established a sub-committee to conduct a short inquiry into the welfare of racing greyhounds. This is a Commons Select Committee. The first hearing with animal welfare charities will take place this coming Tuesday in Westminster.

 

 

 

The sub-committee called for written evidence in the autumn. We were asked to focus on the following in our submissions:

• the appropriateness of the current regulations;
• whether or not the current regulatory framework is consistently applied to licensed and flapping tracks;
• welfare of greyhounds with reference to breeding, kennelling, transporting, racing and euthanasia;
• transparency of data about racing greyhounds, injuries, doping, rehoming, destruction, breeding and imports;
• successful examples of self-regulation and welfare protection;
• whether or not the racing industry and bookmakers contribute sufficiently to welfare; and
• whether or not any lessons can be learned from horse racing.

 

You can view all of the submissions to the inquiry, including Greyhound Compassion’s here.

The sub-committee’s findings will be reported to the EFRA Committee and will contribute to the DEFRA consultation.

We were so disappointed when the Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations were introduced in 2010.  It was evident then that they would be ineffectual. We’ve waited for this second chance to see some change for the racing greyhounds.  Please do complete the consultation.  This is a unique opportunity.