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 large step in the appropriate course that can hopefully start the snowball impact of worldwide change within the sport. The choice, pushed by persistent animal welfare issues, marks the tip of an period for the game within the nation.
Citing an “unacceptably excessive” charge 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 very best curiosity of the animals.”1 Regardless of progress in recent times, together with reductions in euthanasia and a few damage charges, Peters acknowledged 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 business to wind down. Throughout this time, the precedence would be the rehoming of the roughly 2,900 racing greyhounds presently in New Zealand. Peters assured the general public that the canines wouldn’t be despatched abroad to race and launched a invoice to forestall the pointless killing of racing canines, which “will probably be handed beneath urgency.” Animal welfare organizations equivalent 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 Aspect of Greyhound Racing
The game has lengthy confronted criticism in New Zealand for its remedy of greyhounds, with some breeders accused of mistreatment and doping. Opinions over the previous decade have persistently referred to as for important adjustments, and in 2021, the federal government positioned the business “on discover” following studies of over 230 deaths and 900 accidents in a single 12 months. 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 strain from the requires change in observe.
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 could create. Greyhound racing contributes 8.5% of New Zealand’s NZ$1.3 billion racing business and helps over 1,000 full-time jobs.
Regardless of these claims, the federal government’s resolution was knowledgeable by a decade of opinions that persistently beneficial 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, acknowledged in Might final 12 months “We’re confronted with two choices: proceed beneath strict circumstances or closure.” Peters’ announcement makes clear that closure was deemed the one viable path ahead.
The choice has additionally drawn criticism from business stakeholders for the shortage of prior session. Rennell famous that GRNZ had been offering quarterly studies to the minister and had requested a gathering to debate the way forward for the business, however these overtures had been ignored. “The greyhound racing neighborhood is left reeling from the announcement,” stated Hannan, voicing issues 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 appropriate factor to do,” he stated, including that the choice was not a mirrored image of non-public emotions however a needed step for the welfare of racing canines.
Animal rights advocates celebrated Tuesday’s announcement, hailing it as a “monumental win for animal rights.” SAFE marketing campaign supervisor Emma Brodie expressed aid, 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 international locations 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 powerful stance on greyhound racing, the nation will proceed to allow stay export of livestock, a controversial observe that topics animals to lengthy, tense journeys abroad. Animal rights teams have repeatedly condemned stay 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 might argue that this step ahead may very well be smoke and mirrors amongst their reversal of the live export ban from the earlier authorities. Regardless, it’s a win for these canines, 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 continues to be to be performed.
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 beneath a cloud of controversy for many years, with quite a few studies highlighting the exploitation and mistreatment of those canines. The statistics alone are stunning: 1000’s of accidents and a whole bunch of deaths over only a few years. No leisure or business 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 international locations the place greyhound racing stays authorized, proving that progress is feasible even in deeply entrenched industries. Whereas it’s true that the choice will impression the livelihoods of these concerned within the sport, the federal government’s dedication to a managed transition interval and rehoming efforts demonstrates a balanced strategy to addressing these challenges.
New Zealand is discovering its place as a worldwide chief in animal rights, and this resolution 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 subject. Is that this sufficient? Ought to extra be performed? Would you want to adopt a greyhound?
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