The Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) has published its latest progress report  on the implementation of its long-term welfare strategy, ‘A Good Life for Every Greyhound’.

Developed by GBGB, under the leadership of Professor Madeleine Campbell, a leading expert in the field of animal welfare, ethics and law, the strategy was launched to enhance welfare standards across the sport and optimise the care given to racing greyhounds at every stage of their lives. In doing so, GBGB has gone beyond its regulatory remit, which only covers the period a greyhound is actively racing.

The latest progress report published this week details the significant amount of work which has been achieved since the strategy was launched in May 2022. This includes:

  • Enhanced veterinary oversight: Trainers and licensed tracks now benefit from the expert advice and guidance of GBGB’s team of five Regional Regulatory Vets (RRVs). The RRVs, who also conduct an Annual Veterinary Kennel Inspection at trainers’ kennels, have specific oversight over any retired greyhounds awaiting homing in residential kennels.

 

  • More frequent inspections of trainers’ residential kennels: Since the launch of the strategy, there has been a 73% increase in the total number of routine GBGB visits to residential kennels. Trainers now receive regular inspections from GBGB Stipendiary Stewards and Regional Regulatory Vets, as well as an independent audit by SCI. As a reflection of the quality of its oversight of residential kennels, this year GBGB received UKAS accreditation for its inspection process of trainers’ kennels. The increased frequency of visits means that more immediate and targeted action can be taken if needed to support trainers and the welfare of their greyhounds.

 

  • Improved track safety: GBGB has doubled the number of visits to racecourses made by track safety experts, STRI. Consultants now visit each racecourse quarterly, allowing them to assess the track and make recommendations across the full range of weather conditions. Through these visits and the subsequent recommendations, in 2024, the sport recorded its lowest track injury rate of 1.07% against total runs.

 

  • Supporting the transition to retirement: To support the work of our approved homing centres and ensure the financial costs associated with a greyhound’s stay with them are funded, in 2025, GBGB increased the value of the Greyhound Retirement Scheme bond. This bond, which is paid for jointly by owners and GBGB and released once a greyhound enters an approved homing centre, has increased from £400 to £420 for every greyhound.  Greyhounds also continue to benefit from GBGB’s Injury Retirement Scheme to ensure the best possible outcomes for greyhounds which sustain career-ending injuries at the track. Through the strategy, GBGB continues to work with Dr Sarah Heath, an internationally recognised Veterinary Specialist in Behavioural Medicine, on a programme of initiatives which includes the development of a standardised behavioural assessment for racing greyhounds to support their transition to life in a domestic setting.

 

  • Promoting retired greyhounds: To spread the message that greyhounds make excellent pets, GBGB launched a homing campaign, ‘Share Your Life With A Greyhound’, which includes a new bespoke website which provides information about the breed to prospective adopters and connects them to GBGB’s network of over 100 approved homing nationwide centres. The campaign, which has featured former England rugby player Joe Marler, attracted international media attention. Comparing January – June 2025 to the same period in 2024, adoptions from GRS-approved homing centres were up by 37%.

 

  • An expanded programme of education and training for the sport: GBGB has expanded its offer of comprehensive free CPD opportunities for all licence holders to support them in offering the best possible care to greyhounds across all stages of their lives. As well as ongoing training events run in collaboration with leading experts in veterinary science and animal welfare, in 2025, this included a new course for racecourse staff on handling greyhounds at the track, and the launch of an online training programme for kennelhands incorporating a nationally recognised qualification accredited by City & Guilds. In 2024 alone, stakeholders accrued more than 580 hours of free CPD.

 

  • Continuing to invest in research: Multiple research projects being undertaken in collaboration with independent academic experts have continued throughout the medium strategy period, to increase the evidence base for optimising greyhound welfare around topics including nutrition, injury prevention and genetics. Many of the projects are nearing completion and the results will be used to inform evidence-based future policy and practices across the sport. They will be made available to stakeholders through peer reviewed and lay publications.

 

Reflecting on the ongoing success of the Strategy, GBGB’s Executive Veterinarian Tiffany Blackett said:

“We are delighted to share the latest progress report on GBGB’s long-term welfare strategy. This year, so far, has seen the successful implementation of several key strategy goals, particularly with our Regional Regulatory Vets taking over their trainers’ Annual Veterinary Kennel Inspections. It has also been fantastic to see so many licence holders taking up our educational opportunities which helps ensure that our welfare initiatives are being consistently implemented by all those working within the sport.

“Thank you to our stakeholders and everyone involved in researching, formulating and implementing the various measures set out in the welfare strategy. It is wonderful to see the positive impact this work is having on racing greyhounds at every stage of their lives.”

You can read the full report here.