New Zealand plans to ban greyhound racing over animal welfare concerns
GuardianDec 08
New Zealand to Ban Greyhound Racing
Above: At Forbury Park Raceway, St. Kilda, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, greyhounds are racing to the finish line on Jan. 24, 2012. Image copyright: Tim Clayton/Contributor/Corbis via Getty Images
The Facts
New Zealand's government announced plans to ban greyhound racing by 2026, citing "persistently high" injury rates and animal welfare concerns despite industry reforms.
The government will also introduce legislation to prevent the unnecessary killing of racing dogs, with approximately 2.9K greyhounds needing to be rehomed during the 20-month transition period.
The Spin
Narrative A
The persistent high injury rates and deaths demonstrate that greyhound racing is inherently dangerous and cruel, marking this ban as a monumental victory for animal rights that reflects growing public recognition that animal exploitation for entertainment is unacceptable.
Narrative B
The greyhound racing industry has made significant strides in animal welfare reforms, with injury rates below Australian averages and lower euthanasia rates than horse racing. This ban is an unnecessary devastation to families and businesses that have dedicated their lives to the sport.
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