New Zealand Takes Historic Step for Dog Welfare

On July 31, 2026, New Zealand held its final commercial greyhound race, bringing an end to more than 150 years of greyhound racing in the country. A nationwide ban went into effect the following day, making New Zealand the latest country to put an end to this cruel industry following major progress in Scotland and Wales.

New Zealand's decision came after years of mounting evidence that the inherent dangers of greyhound racing could not be adequately addressed through regulation. Multiple independent reviews documented persistent animal welfare problems both on and off the track, including serious injuries and deaths, prolonged confinement in barren kennels, and exposure to illegal and banned substances.

The dangers are hardly unique to New Zealand. Greyhounds used for racing are pushed to run at unnatural speeds of up to 45 miles per hour, leaving them vulnerable to broken legs, spinal injuries, severe head trauma, and death. Behind the scenes, dogs can spend much of their lives confined to kennels, while those who are injured, age out of racing, or simply fail to perform can be discarded by an industry that treats them as commodities rather than living beings.

New Zealand first announced its intention to ban greyhound racing in December 2024, and legislation formally ending the industry passed earlier this year. Tragically, even during the transition period, dogs continued to pay the price. In the time between the ban's announcement and the country's final races, 22 greyhounds died or were euthanized as a result of race-day injuries.

Now, those tragedies will no longer happen on New Zealand racetracks.

Around 1,400 greyhounds are expected to retire from racing and be rehomed as the industry shuts down. Unfortunately, approximately 150 others are set to be transported to Australia, where greyhound racing remains legal and trainers can continue racing them. While this is a heartbreaking reminder of how much work remains to end this industry globally, New Zealand's ban ensures that future generations of dogs will no longer be bred into a life of racing, injury, and exploitation within the country.

New Zealand now joins a growing movement rejecting greyhound racing as an outdated and unacceptable form of entertainment. Yet England continues to fall behind.

Scotland and Wales have already taken decisive steps toward ending greyhound racing, and New Zealand has now demonstrated once again that governments can choose animal welfare over an industry that profits from putting dogs at risk. Greyhounds are gentle, affectionate animals who deserve to live as beloved companions, not spend their lives being pushed to dangerous speeds for the entertainment of gamblers.

England has no excuse to continue clinging to this antiquated practice. It is time to follow the growing international movement, ban greyhound racing, and ensure that no more dogs are injured or killed in the name of this cruel sport.

You can make a difference by joining Species Unite in calling on England to follow New Zealand's lead and end this cruel form of dog abuse once and for all.