Final week, New Zealand introduced plans to ban greyhound racing, a transfer that has been described as each “monumental” and “devastating,” relying on whom you ask. In case you ask us right here at Dogster, the one factor devastating about it’s the truth that it has taken so lengthy to be banned within the first place. However this can be a enormous step in the best route that can hopefully start the snowball impact of worldwide change within the sport. The choice, pushed by persistent animal welfare considerations, marks the top of an period for the game within the nation.
Citing an “unacceptably excessive” price of accidents, Racing Minister (and New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister) Winston Peters declared that the time had come to “make a name in the perfect curiosity of the animals.”1 Regardless of progress lately, together with reductions in euthanasia and a few harm charges, Peters said that the enhancements had been inadequate to justify the continuation of greyhound racing.
The federal government has outlined a 20-month transition interval to permit the trade to wind down. Throughout this time, the precedence would be the rehoming of the roughly 2,900 racing greyhounds at the moment in New Zealand. Peters assured the general public that the canine wouldn’t be despatched abroad to race and launched a invoice to forestall the pointless killing of racing canine, which “shall be handed underneath urgency.” Animal welfare organizations similar to SAFE and SPCA are poised to help with the rehoming efforts, although logistical challenges stay, the federal government is devoted to serving to, with Peters describing greyhounds as “beautifully good pets … and clear.”
The Darkish Facet of Greyhound Racing
The game has lengthy confronted criticism in New Zealand for its therapy of greyhounds, with some breeders accused of mistreatment and doping. Critiques over the previous decade have persistently known as for important modifications, and in 2021, the federal government positioned the trade “on discover” following reviews of over 230 deaths and 900 accidents in a single yr. Subsequent monitoring by animal rights teams like SAFE recorded greater than 2,500 accidents and almost 30 deaths within the two-and-a-half years that adopted, regardless of the stress from the requires change in apply.
Nevertheless, the announcement was met with robust opposition from Greyhound Racing New Zealand (GRNZ). The group’s chairman, Sean Hannan, and chief govt, Edward Rennell, each expressed their disappointment. Hannan described the choice as “profoundly disappointing” and highlighted the potential cultural and financial void it will create. Greyhound racing contributes 8.5% of New Zealand’s NZ$1.3 billion racing trade and helps over 1,000 full-time jobs.
Regardless of these claims, the federal government’s choice was knowledgeable by a decade of evaluations that persistently advisable stricter oversight or closure. Former racing ministers, together with Grant Robertson and Kieran McAnulty, had beforehand signaled that the established order was unsustainable. McAnulty, who served as racing minister till the final election in 2023, said in Could final yr “We’re confronted with two choices: proceed underneath strict situations or closure.” Peters’ announcement makes clear that closure was deemed the one viable path ahead.
The choice has additionally drawn criticism from trade stakeholders for the dearth of prior session. Rennell famous that GRNZ had been offering quarterly reviews to the minister and had requested a gathering to debate the way forward for the trade, however these overtures had been ignored. “The greyhound racing neighborhood is left reeling from the announcement,” stated Hannan, voicing considerations over the livelihoods of these concerned within the sport.
Celebrating the Win For Greyhounds
Nonetheless, Peters emphasised that defending animal welfare was the first motivator behind the choice. “Stopping greyhound racing is the best factor to do,” he stated, including that the choice was not a mirrored image of non-public emotions however a obligatory step for the welfare of racing canine.
Animal rights advocates celebrated Tuesday’s announcement, hailing it as a “monumental win for animal rights.” SAFE marketing campaign supervisor Emma Brodie expressed reduction, saying, “This marks an finish of an period of exploitation and a monumental win for animal rights in Aotearoa.” Brodie added that the choice displays a rising sentiment amongst New Zealanders who oppose cruelty disguised as leisure.
New Zealand’s oldest animal welfare charity, SPCA, shared within the celebration, calling the choice “ecstatic” and urging different nations to observe go well with. At present, industrial greyhound racing is permitted in solely a handful of nations, together with Australia, Eire, the UK, and the US.
The Animal Welfare Paradox
Whereas the decision to ban greyhound racing has been broadly celebrated, it additionally highlights a paradoxical animal welfare stance in New Zealand. Regardless of taking a robust stance on greyhound racing, the nation will proceed to allow reside export of livestock, a controversial apply that topics animals to lengthy, disturbing journeys abroad. Animal rights teams have repeatedly condemned reside export, describing it as merciless and inconsistent with New Zealand’s in any other case robust animal welfare picture.
Moreover, the nation lacks complete animal rights legal guidelines, with solely restricted protections for animals raised for meals, farming, and leisure (and never for pets). This inconsistency raises questions in regards to the authorities’s broader dedication to animal welfare. One may argue that this step ahead could possibly be smoke and mirrors amongst their reversal of the live export ban from the earlier authorities. Regardless, it’s a win for these canine, however for a lot of activists, whereas the greyhound racing ban is a step ahead, it additionally serves as a reminder of the work that is still to be completed.
Congratulations on This Step Ahead
New Zealand’s decision to phase out greyhound racing is a daring and commendable step ahead for animal welfare. The game has operated underneath a cloud of controversy for many years, with quite a few reviews highlighting the exploitation and mistreatment of those canine. The statistics alone are surprising: 1000’s of accidents and tons of of deaths over just some years. No leisure or trade can justify such a toll.
This transfer alerts a broader shift in societal values, the place the welfare of animals is more and more prioritized over outdated types of leisure. It additionally units an instance for different nations the place greyhound racing stays authorized, proving that progress is feasible even in deeply entrenched industries. Whereas it’s true that the choice will affect the livelihoods of these concerned within the sport, the federal government’s dedication to a managed transition interval and rehoming efforts demonstrates a balanced method to addressing these challenges.
New Zealand is discovering its place as a worldwide chief in animal rights, and this choice will undoubtedly encourage additional motion worldwide. For the greyhounds who’ve suffered in silence, this isn’t only a monumental win – it’s a long-overdue liberation.
What Are Your Ideas?
We’d love to listen to from you on this matter. Is that this sufficient? Ought to extra be completed? Would you want to adopt a greyhound?
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