WELLINGTON – New Zealand plans to outlaw greyhound racing as a result of too many canines are damage or killed, the federal government stated Tuesday, spelling an finish to the follow in one of many few international locations the place it nonetheless operates.
The racing of greyhounds as a betting sport was wildly common at occasions final century. However the variety of canines euthanized as a consequence of race-day accidents, or as a result of houses can’t be discovered for them after their brief careers finish, has provoked animal welfare campaigns and rising public distaste for the game.
Industrial greyhound racing continues in america, Australia, the U.Okay. and Eire, with solely two tracks remaining in the U.S. after many states ended the follow.
New Zealand’s ban isn’t but legislation however has common political help. The federal government plans to cease the racing from Aug. 1, 2026, to permit the two,900 racing canines to be rehomed and greater than 1,000 folks employed within the trade to search out different work, Racing Minister Winston Peters stated Tuesday.
Unease over animal welfare
New Zealand’s greyhound racing trade has confronted repeated opinions in recent times over its canine security report, with a number of stories urging sweeping adjustments. Peters stated the trade had made progress -– however not sufficient.
Stricter insurance policies governing when canines will be euthanized, and rehoming applications that ship retired New Zealand greyhounds overseas as pets when houses can’t be discovered domestically, have diminished the numbers killed annually. However the share of canines injured “stays persistently excessive,” Peters stated.
“The time has come to make a name in one of the best curiosity of the animals,” he stated.
Greyhound Racing New Zealand, an trade group, accused the federal government of not recognizing enhancements made, together with its dedication to monitoring the care of each retired canine for the remainder of its life. Tuesday’s announcement was “a devastating blow,” stated chair Sean Hannan.
The animal welfare group SPCA praised the federal government for exhibiting “compassion for canines made to work in a harmful playing trade.” The follow has lengthy been out of favor in New Zealand, spokesperson Arnja Dale stated.
A racing trade in world decline
Some lawmakers in parliament on Tuesday described the racing trade’s finish as inevitable following the regular decline of greyhound racing worldwide.
Industrial racing operates in 4 different international locations. Within the U.S., its reputation peaked within the Eighties and the variety of states permitting the follow has dwindled since then amid stories of canine mistreatment and the explosion of different playing choices.
Solely two tracks stay -– each in West Virginia -– after Iowa, Arkansas and Florida shuttered their racing industries. Greyhounds have change into common as pets within the U.S., and New Zealand has despatched dozens of canines to new house owners there when houses couldn’t be discovered within the nation of 5 million folks.
Greyhound racing can be authorized in Australia, the place critics have decried the follow, and the principles governing it fluctuate by state. Industrial racing at the moment operates all through the U.Okay. and Eire, however the Scottish parliament is contemplating a ban there.
The follow stays authorized in Mexico and Vietnam, however there are not operational tracks in both nation, in accordance with data provided by Peters’ workplace.
A swift authorized change to guard canines
Hours after it introduced the top to greyhound racing, New Zealand’s authorities rushed by means of a legislation to forestall canines from being killed whereas the trade winds down, until a veterinarian deems it unavoidable. It will stop house owners from euthanizing canines for financial causes, Peters stated.
Lawmakers unanimously agreed to the change.
The legislation shutting down the trade will take longer, nonetheless, and isn’t anticipated to move till subsequent 12 months after a interval of public submissions. All political events help the ban.
Copyright 2024 The Related Press. All rights reserved. This materials is probably not printed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed with out permission.