Wales to become first UK nation to ban greyhound racing

The Welsh government has announced plans to ban greyhound racing "as soon as practically possible," making Wales the first UK nation to prohibit the sport.

Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies confirmed the decision on Tuesday, citing concerns over animal welfare. While no official timeline has been set, he suggested that the ban could be implemented before the next Welsh Parliament election in May 2026, BBC reported.

The move follows growing political and public pressure, including a cross-party push, a government consultation on animal welfare that received over 1,100 responses, and a petition signed by 35,000 people. Wales currently has just one greyhound racing track, the Valley Stadium in Ystrad Mynach.

The Cut the Chase coalition, which includes Blue Cross, Dogs Trust, Greyhound Rescue Wales, Hope Rescue, and the RSPCA, is also actively advocating for the ban. "Greyhound racing is inherently dangerous for the dogs involved, and running at speed around oval tracks causes significant injury to many dogs," the Dogs Trust said. "In some cases, the injuries are so severe that it is necessary to euthanize the dog."

Meanwhile, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB), which regulates the sport, condemned the decision, calling it a response to pressure from the "extreme animal rights movement.”

“The Welsh Government’s own Summary of Consultation Responses highlighted the lack of evidence to support the case for a ban on the sport,” said Mark Bird, chief executive officer for the Greyhound Board of Great Britain.

“This Summary made clear there has been a coordinated campaign against licensed greyhound racing, seeking to drown out the voice of local people including those whose livelihoods rely on the sport,” he added.

Bird criticized the government for failing to engage with industry representatives while holding discussions with campaign groups. “We have engaged in the consultation process in good faith as a regulator for the sport, but this statement is hugely disappointing and will do absolutely nothing to support greyhound welfare,” Bird said.

The announcement sparked debate in the Senedd (Welsh Parliament), with Plaid Cymru’s Llyr Gruffydd urging swift action while raising concerns about the legislative process. Gruffydd acknowledged "challenges" to legislate in the 14 months remaining before the parliament dissolves.

Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds, a rescue greyhound owner, called the move "an absolutely fantastic day" for animal welfare. Labor members, including North Wales MS Carolyn Thomas, also praised the decision.

However, concerns remain over illegal racing. Former Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies warned that banning regulated tracks could lead to underground racing.

An "implementation group" will be set up to develop a transition plan for the industry, including considerations for dog welfare, affected workers, and the future use of the racetrack land.

Hefin David, the Labour MS for Caerphilly, highlighted concerns about the Valley Stadium’s location on a floodplain, calling for financial planning to prevent it from becoming derelict.

Despite calls for compensation for those in the industry, Irranca-Davies said the government was not considering financial support but would engage with stakeholders.