By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
It has been reported that greyhound racing is to be banned in Wales, but the legislation, which was passed by the Welsh Parliament (the Senedd), is being legally challenged on the grounds that there was insufficient consultation.
Speaking in the Senedd, Jane Dodds stated that:
"By passing this bill, we will be saying as a nation that foreseeable and unavoidable harm to animals cannot be justified in the name of sport or in the service of gambling revenues".
Under the legislation, the earliest that greyhound racing is to be banned is April 2027 and the latest April 2030.
In fact, there is only one greyhound track in Wales, namely, Valley Greyhounds, which is in Ystrad Mynach, in Caerphilly County.
The Scottish Parliament is also discussing a ban on the sport, but there are no greyhound tracks in Scotland following the closure of the last one in 2025.
Jamie Adair, of the animal welfare charity, the League Against Cruel Sports, welcoming the Welsh legislation, remarked that:
"The death and injury toll of greyhound racing is quite simply shocking, and goes beyond what people see at the racetracks."
It will be interesting to see whether the legal challenge is successful.
Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘