Exciting news for dogs!

On 16 April, the Government announced a review of greyhound racing in Aotearoa. The announcement came after SAFE, the Greyhound Protection League NZ and Grey2K USA Worldwide brought to light the plight of greyhounds trapped in the racing industry in New Zealand.

The review is a great step forward, but will change come soon enough for the dogs who are being forced to race at great risk to their lives?

Each day that we delay a ban on greyhound racing, more dogs suffer injuries. When a dog is seriously injured, they are often killed, instead of being treated by a veterinarian. When a greyhound is no longer profitable to the industry, they are discarded.

The Greyhound Racing New Zealand 2020 Annual Report shows that 34 dogs were killed on racetracks due to critical injuries sustained during racing.  A further 165 dogs were euthanised for reasons the industry will not even disclose.

At least 29 dogs were injured in the two weeks following the Government’s announcement of the review alone. ‘Smash Dreamer,’ who broke his leg in a bad fall on 26 April in Christchurch, is just one of the many. It is unacceptable for dogs like Smash Dreamer to continue to suffer every day. These dogs cannot wait for the outcome of the Government review to see if they will be spared another gruelling, and potentially deadly, race.

That’s why SAFE is calling on the Minister for Racing, Hon Grant Robertson, and the Associate Minister for Agriculture (Animal Welfare), Hon Meka Whaitiri, to immediately suspend greyhound racing.

Please join us in calling for an immediate end to greyhound racing!

SAFE and the Greyhound Protection League are also running a petition to end greyhound racing in Aotearoa. Over 26,000 people have already signed, showing that dog-loving Kiwis want an end to this cruel industry. The petition closes on 1 August 2021, so if you haven’t already, please sign and share with your friends and whānau!

It’s time for Aotearoa to treat greyhounds with the love and compassion all dogs deserve.