Should you be betting on the doggies? A look into the underbelly of NZ Greyhound racing.

The Greyhound industry in New Zealand is only one of eight countries where it is still legal. Photo: Stuff/Joseph Johnson.

Greyhound Racing has been common in practice in New Zealand, the sport is popular, and you’ll be hard-pressed to go to find a pub that doesn’t have at least one TV screen showing the racing hounds.

Despite the sport’s popularity, it is not without its fair share of complaints. Especially regarding the treatment of the dogs. This treatment calls to end the practice all together.

New Zealand is one of eight countries where Greyhound racing is still legal.

In 2021, the then Racing Minister, Grant Robertson said to 1news, “I want to be clear today – the greyhound racing industry is on notice, either make the improvements needed or risk closure.”

Fast forward to 2023, and the industry is currently “on notice” and as a result still at risk of being shut down. Green Party MP Chloe Swarbrick recently began drafting a new members bill to respond to the issues in the industry.

Swarbrick in an opinion piece published on Stuff in April 2021 noted that seven greyhounds had already been killed since the start of the year as of the publication date of the article.

“These deaths and injuries aren’t a bug. They’re a design feature, and they always have been,” she said.

In a statement from Swarbrick’s office, “We [The Green Party] have worked with a number of organisations over the last few years to try and further this cause and urge the Minister to make an announcement about the fate of the industry.”

The SPCA also calls for an end to commercial greyhound racing in New Zealand, citing the fact that “the Greyhound Racing Industry in New Zealand has a demonstrated history of being unwilling or unable to adequately address the significant animal welfare concerns.”

The SPCA has a long list of concerns regarding the welfare of the dogs; including breeding practices that lead to poor welfare outcomes, distress or injuries that result from excessive demands being placed upon the animals during racing or training, lack of socialisation and environmental enrichment, the fate of unwanted greyhounds, and the difficulties in rehoming greyhounds once their racing career is over.

Another major concern of the SPCA is instances of racing Greyhounds having drug tests return positive for performance enhancers.

July this year saw another greyhound handler banned from the sport 15 months after a dog tested positive for methamphetamine. He was fined $1200 for abusing two dogs as well as assaulting a dog trainer.

SPCA chief executive, Gabby Clezy in an interview for NZME stated that, “Whether these animals were exposed to these dangerous substances intentionally or not, these positive results are another piece of evidence demonstrating the commercial greyhound racing industry’s continuing failure to adequately protect the welfare of the dogs in their care.”

Dr Alison Vaughan is the SPCA’s Scientific Officer. She notes that, “SPCA [has] tried for years to work with the industry to improve the welfare of greyhounds.” The organisation even sat on the Greyhound industry’s Health and Welfare committee until March 2022, when the SPCA was removed. Vaughan says the greyhound racing industry, “has a demonstrated history of being unwilling and unable to adequately address its significant animal welfare problems.”

In 2022, the SPCA published findings of a survey that asked New Zealanders about their opinions regarding greyhound racing. 74% of New Zealanders would vote to ban in a referendum and only 9% of respondents believed that greyhounds who raced had a good life.

The SPCA encourages “people to contact the racing Minister to call for an end to commercial greyhound racing in New Zealand.” The organisation has also submitted a petition to parliament calling for an end to the practice.

The SPCA says that a government decision on greyhound racing is due within the coming months. Until then the “SPCA continues to take every available opportunity to advocate on behalf of greyhounds and for an end to the industry.”

When asked about what the SPCA would like to see in the future regarding the industry, Vaughan says, “SPCA would like to see a ban on commercial greyhound racing in New Zealand. SPCA supports a transition period to ensure dogs currently involved with the industry are able to find homes as pets and people involved in the industry are able to find alternative employment.”

“If a ban on commercial greyhound racing comes into effect, SPCA has committed to providing support to facilitate the rehoming of these gentle dogs.”

Minister for Racing Kieran McAnulty, in a Stuff article said he was “considering a ban on the industry but would wait for the final report.” Although it is likely that a decision will not be made until after the general election this year.

With the greyhound racing industry coming under further scrutiny for its inaction over animal welfare, and with New Zealanders turning on the industry as a whole; it is looking like greyhound racing may soon be a thing of the past.