Senedd members have called for a consultation to explore banning greyhound racing in Wales.
Wales is one of just 10 countries in the world where greyhound racing is still legal. It was decided by the Senedd yesterday that an in-depth consultation needs to be carried out to ensure that a petition calling for an end to the sport can be considered properly. Discussing the report by the Senedd Petitions Committee calling for the ban, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS said: "This, for me, is about the sort of Wales we want.
"I don't want the sort of Wales where animals are produced on an industrial scale for sports. I don't want to be in a Wales where this promotes and encourages betting and gambling."
Read more: Greyhound racing takes step closer to being banned in Wales
She went on: "I don't want to be in a Wales where animals are injured. I don't want to be in a Wales where, at the end of animals' careers in racing, they go to a dog's home where they wait for people to come along to take them away.
"That relies on charities, and those charities are here today. They get no funding for that, apart from through the GBGB rehoming bond.
"And let me just tell you a little bit about this. The GBGB rehoming bond will only go to homes who do no speak out against greyhound racing. That means that there is only one place in Wales that receives the Greyhound Board of Great Britain rehoming bond."
Luke Sergeant MS noted: “I can't support any event that puts dogs at risk of injury, and that's why I'm supporting the petition and hope that the Government will take action in this area."
But some of the issues raised included whether or not banning the sport would actually have a positive effect on animal welfare, or if it could be detrimental. Welsh Conservative, Joel James MS, voiced his concerns about how by making greyhound racing illegal, it could mean that it could go on undercover while being unregulated.
He said: "All those owners or breeders who commit animal abuse, or have poor welfare standards for their animals, will simply no longer be visible and will go underground. They will also have no qualms whatsoever with destroying their animals."
Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd, Lesley Griffiths said: “We will explore all options and we will take into account the views of the public and all stakeholders. Whilst discussions around an outright ban are necessary and of course will attract headlines, it is imperative that we approach the topic in a reasoned and appropriate way.”
Valleys Greyhounds Malcom Tams has previously said: "It's a very thin line we're treading at the moment with being unlicensed as I'm limited to what I can do. I've bought the place. I've spent half a million pounds on it trying to put it on the map. In my career only two of our dogs that race here have had to be put down due to serious injuries."
He added: "I can see where people are coming from when they're saying the dogs shouldn't be raced but you've got to look at where we're coming from. It's been portrayed that our track is not safe to have dogs on, but we've had eight visits by the vets and Caerphilly Council in the last 12 months who say that it is still in good condition."
Some of the other points that campaigners made in the debate was that some of the greyhounds were raced in boiling temperatures over the summer. As well as this, another problem can also be that at the end of their careers, greyhounds are often left waiting for homes.
Jack Sergeant MS said: "What is absolutely clear is that greyhound racing in Wales cannot continue as it is today. That is absolutely and fundamentally clear.
"I do thank those campaigners and the petitioner, because without the petitioner, we wouldn't have had this debate today; we wouldn't have had that inquiry. I look forward to the consultation.
"I look forward to its outcome and I look forward to working with colleagues in my capacity as a Member of the Senedd, and not as Chair, to continue to press the Welsh Government to deliver the recommendations of the report and bring down the curtain on greyhound racing in Wales. Diolch."
The UK’s largest animal welfare charities have welcomed further support from Members of the Senedd for their joint call to bring greyhound racing to an end in Wales. RSPCA Chief Executive Chris Sherwood said: “It's fantastic to see this debate underline the strength of support across the Senedd chamber for not only improving greyhound welfare, but for stopping greyhound racing in Wales altogether.
“The Petitions Committee inquiry was so important - highlighting the countless welfare issues associated with greyhound racing which exist from birth through to death. The huge public support for the petition, and the work of so many charities on this issue, reminds us what we can achieve together for animal welfare.
"Now, Wales has a real opportunity to send a statement, and protect these dogs from this dangerous sport once and for all. With no vet at the track, and no requirement to publish the number of injuries or deaths, it's hard to estimate the true scale of welfare problems in Wales currently caused by greyhound racing - but so long as this sport continues, dogs are needlessly placed at serious risk of painful injuries and death.
“Wales is one of only ten countries in the world where commercial greyhound racing remains. It’s time for Wales to cut the chase on greyhound racing, and consign this so-called sport to the history books."
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