Greyhound racing involves greyhounds chasing a motorised lure at high speed around or along a specialised track while spectators place bets on particular dogs to win. The inherently risky nature of racing, coupled with the industry’s dependence on over-breeding, gambling revenue and the incentive to win prize money, has led to a situation where the welfare of racing greyhounds is compromised. Over 40 percent of racing greyhounds suffer injuries while racing; some serious, some lethal. This is the case wherever it occurs, and as a result, greyhound racing remains legal in only a handful of countries.
We do not believe that the greyhound racing industry can be safely regulated for the animals. We also acknowledge the negative impacts of gambling on human mental health, domestic relationships, and financial stability. Over the past decade, three reviews have shed light on concerning practices within the greyhound racing industry in New Zealand, following which the industry has lost its social licence.
AJP advocates for non-violent, community-friendly entertainment that aligns with society’s progressive concerns and higher ethical and moral principles and does not exploit and undermine animals’ well-being.
Key Objectives:
- Ban all forms of greyhound racing in Aotearoa NZ.
Interim measures, while we work towards the ban, include:
- Promote full transparency and accountability in relation to deaths and injuries of all greyhounds born into the racing industry, both on and off the track.
- Recommend immediate restrictions to curb the breeding of greyhounds.
- Call for a reduction on the number of greyhounds each racing kennel is permitted to own.
- Support the SPCA’s ‘Good Life’ Recommendation.
- Support the animal advocacy agencies (SPCA, SAFE, HUHA, Dogwatch) who are committed to finding loving homes for greyhounds when a ban is enacted.
- Reallocate government funding and subsidies to transition those employed by the industry into non-exploitative jobs and careers.