Bookies must contribute more to protect greyhounds, say MPs
Dogs Trust said that the recommendations outlined in the report were ‘a positive step for greyhound welfare.’
Bookmakers should do more to protect racing dogs and should not prioritise profit over welfare standards, a report on greyhound welfare has concluded.
Bookmakers’ voluntary welfare contributions to the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) have fallen by almost 50 per cent over the last decade.
In their report, MPs said that the Government should consider imposing a compulsory levy after hearing that profits from online and overseas betting were not included in contributions.
Neil Parish MP, chairman of the Committee, said: "All racing greyhounds should enjoy high welfare standards both during their racing career and retirement. Bookmakers who profit from greyhound racing should contribute to welfare standards regardless of whether the profits are from high-street stores, online or overseas betting.
“The welfare of racing greyhounds shouldn’t be at the whim of bookmakers who can simply choose to contribute or not. The Government should consider introducing a statutory levy or an alternative betting rights model to protect animal welfare."
Welcoming the news, Dogs Trust said that the recommendations outlined in the report were ‘a positive step for greyhound welfare.’
A spokesperson commented: “In light of the popularity of the sport and the significant turnover it generates the charity welcome the report’s onus on bookmakers who profit from greyhound racing to contribute financially to improving welfare standards.
“Currently some, but not all, bookmakers pay a voluntary levy for greyhound welfare and so we welcome the recommendation for this levy to be made statutory. Fortunately, EFRA have also echoed Dogs Trust’s own concerns surrounding the self-regulation of the industry and recommended a probationary period of two years continued self-regulation.”
The report also recommends that regulations are amended to require the publication of essential welfare data relating to injury, euthanasia and rehoming.
Dogs Trust estimate that around 3,500 greyhounds are unaccounted for every year in the UK, but as statistics are not published by the industry, the true extent of the problem is difficult to assess.
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
