This page provides a range of short briefs on key issues in greyhound racing.
Terminal blood donation
Terminal blood donation is a common practice that exploits greyhounds before their death.
Socialisation rules are not enforced
Community rescue groups reported the majority of greyhounds that come into their care display signs of stress and are fearful of humans
Over-racing
Owners and trainers in Australia can legally over-race greyhounds. This places racing dogs at risk of serious injuries, including fatal heart attacks.
The black hole of Northern Territory greyhound racing
2021 independent report finds that NT greyhound racing "does not have adequate policies and procedures in place to ensure best practice animal welfare standards are being adhered to."
Investigation into the integrity of Tasmanian racing
In September 2021, the Tasmanian Minister for Racing announced an investigation into the state's racing laws. This is likely to be a reaction to a string of ongoing issues with Tasracing and the Tasmanian Office of Racing Integrity (ORI).
Greyhound exports 2022+
The Australian greyhound export trade has a long and bloody history. Will the new new Federal Government finally take ban greyhound exports.
Public opinion – Australians do not support greyhound racing
All surveys of the general population regarding public attitudes to greyhound racing show most Australians do not want greyhound racing to continue.
What the animal experts say
RSPCA Australia considers that there are significant and entrenched animal welfare problems inherent in the greyhound racing industry.
Crimes and fines
Published research shows most Australians feel strongly that penalties for animal abuse are too low and this also applies to greyhound racing.
Stopping sponsors
In 2020, Toyota Australia, Volkswagen Australia and Optus along with other high profile Australian companies cancelled their sponsorship of greyhound racing. Once they were alerted to the realities of greyhound racing, they were quick to disassociate themselves from the industry.
On-track deaths and injuries
Injuries are very common in greyhound racing causing intense pain, suffering and distress. Serious bone fractures of the leg are the most common injury.
What causes the worst injuries
The most catastrophic injuries occur when greyhounds collide at speed of up to 68km per hour, particularly at track bends where they are attempting to turn and follow a lure position that is too close to the inside rail.
Optimal track design identified by UTS
In 2017, the University of Technology, Sydney found that “Approximately 80% of all catastrophic and major injuries were caused by congestion and incidents such as checking, collision and galloping.”
Injury rebate schemes
Rebate schemes are made available by the racing industry to owners who are unwilling or unable to pay for the treatment of serious injuries.
The ‘wastage’ caused by overbreeding
Not every dog is suited to racing. Around 40% of the 11,000 greyhounds bred in Australia each year are surplus to requirements. The industry calls them 'initial wastage'.
Socialisation rules are not enforced
Community rescue groups reported the majority of greyhounds that come into their care display signs of stress and are fearful of humans
Over-racing
Owners and trainers in Australia can legally over-race greyhounds. This places racing dogs at risk of serious injuries, including fatal heart attacks.
A GAPing hole in the industry – NSW greyhound rehoming
A white paper by the Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds provides the first insight into how industry rehomers (GAPs) are performing compared to community-run rescues.
The ‘disappeared’
There is a constant oversupply of greyhounds in Australia as the industry breeds far too many dogs in the hope of finding the one that will run fast enough to earn money.
Doping and drugging
In 2018 the Sydney Morning Herald reported that greyhounds test positive for drugs 10 times more than horses at races.
The ‘starts’ concept – fudging the stats
Around the world, the greyhound racing industry uses the concept of 'starts' to present its injury and death statistics.
Exposing children to animal suffering
Research has shown that children forced to witness or participate in acts of animal cruelty can suffer serious psychological consequences.
Live baiting
Although illegal, live baiting still occurs because there is an old-fashioned belief held by some racing industry participants that it gets greyhounds to run faster. Here is recent media coverage about live baiting offences:
Evidence of cruelty
Greyhound racing is built on the sacrifice of young, healthy greyhounds when they fail to make money for the industry.
The link between animal cruelty and aggression towards humans
Criminal psychologists acknowledge that participating in or viewing acts of repeated cruelty towards animals desensitizes both the perpetrator and the spectator.
A life of quiet desperation
Evidence demonstrates that most greyhounds are kept under inadequate conditions that fail to meet their physiological, behavioural and social needs.
Feeding of contaminated ‘knackery’ meat
Many greyhounds across Australia are fed on a diet of knackery meat. This meat is unfit for human consumption and is sourced from dying, diseased, disabled and dead livestock.
Racing industry fights for surgical “mutilation” procedure banned overseas
Surgical AI is highly invasive involving surgery and general anaesthesia and causes significant pain to the female dog.
Live baiting, ABC expose and McHugh report
In 2015, Four Corners broadcast shocking footage of live rabbits and possums being tortured and ripped to pieces in order to “live bait” greyhounds.
Myth-busting: the 2016 NSW Greyhound Racing Ban
Following the NSW government decision to ban greyhound racing, there was an enormous amount of misinformation generated by the racing industry and its supporters. CPG busted the top 10 myths making the rounds. Many of them are still being used as excuses for the cruel exploitation of greyhounds.
A chance to reform
Despite evidence of systemic animal cruelty, the industry was given a chance to reform.
Australia – world’s largest commercial greyhound racing industry
Australia is one of only eight countries in the world with a commercial greyhound racing industry — but it's by far the biggest.
Gambling – a public health issue
According to the latest reports, Australians are the biggest gamblers on earth, losing more than $24 billion in 2017/18.
Tabcorp
Without gambling there would be no racing. What should Tabcorp do to prove it has integrity and deserves public trust? It should work with its industry partners to make beneficial change for racing dogs and horses.
Who bets on greyhounds
"among the 3.2% who bet on greyhounds, the average age is not quite 41—younger than the average Facebook website visitor, The Bachelor Australia viewer, or The Man from U.N.C.L.E movie-goer...
A dying industry – economic modelling
In its 2017 annual report, IBISWorld described the Horse and Dog Racing industry as being in the declining stage of its economic lifecycle.
