The UK Government has published its response to a petition calling for a ban on greyhound racing, making clear it has no intention of banning the sport.

Responding to the Government’s statement, GBGB CEO Mark Bird said:

“It is heartening that the British Government continues to take an evidence-based view of licensed greyhound racing in Britain. 

“We are pleased to see fresh recognition of the tremendous improvements in greyhound welfare which have been achieved through GBGB’s robust regulation – particularly in the context of such harmful and misinformed campaigns against the sport. 

“As the Government recognises, GBGB is never complacent about greyhound welfare. Through our long-term welfare strategy, we continue to work with leading experts in fields from veterinary medicine to sports surfacing to further enhance welfare in the licensed sport. 

“While the British Labour Government is being led by evidence, Welsh Labour is letting itself be led on by animal rights groups.

“Despite the overwhelming evidence of how regulation promotes and protects greyhound welfare, the animal rights lobby has been running its campaign based on outdated myths, inaccurate or uncontextualised data and unsupported anecdotal evidence. 

“This response from the national Government should make Wales truly reconsider its ill-judged, politically motivated and entirely rushed piece of legislation to ban greyhound racing which endangers all reputable animal sports and activities in Wales.”