There are growing calls from animal rights groups for greyhound racing to be banned in New Zealand.

A petition by the Greyhound Protection League of New Zealand wants prohibits commercial greyhound racing and :ensure all dogs that have been bred by and used within the greyhound racing industry are rehabilitated and rehomed.”

It says “we feel that greyhound racing should be banned in New Zealand because it has failed to meet the reasonable expectations of its required ‘public license’.

We believe it is inconsistent with the spirit of the Animal Welfare Act and that, as an industry, greyhound racing has shown it cannot and will not stop killing hundreds of greyhounds, simply to provide entertainment and gambling profits.

Animal welfare organisation SAFE says Greyhound Racing New Zealand 2019 Annual Report shows that 297 dogs were euthanised in the 2018/2019 season due to the industry’s failure to rehome them.

A further 54 were euthanised at the track due to critical injuries sustained during racing.

‘“When you combine gambling with cruelty, it’s clear that greyhound racing needs to be banned in New Zealand.”