Similar to horse racing, greyhounds are raced around a track to determine the fastest dog. In an ideal world, nothing would be wrong with greyhound racing, but behind the scenes in this billion-pound industry, it is far from ideal.

Thousands of greyhounds go missing every year, many put down, others dispatched with a bullet to the head or a brick around the neck.

The League campaigns for independent regulation of the greyhound racing industry, to protect dogs and ensure that proper provisions are made for their health and wellbeing.

What are we doing?

We campaign to improve the lives of thousands of racing greyhounds, as recommended by the All Party Group on Animal Welfare (APGAW).

The League is lobbying for the Animal Welfare Act to be used to immediately set standards for the following key recommendations:

• The set-up of one single regulatory authority to establish and enforce welfare rules, including vets and a significant number of representatives from animal welfare organisations.
• A central electronic database, similar to that of the horse racing industry, should be created which has records of all dogs bred, racing and retiring, including details of injuries and the dogs' owners.
• An independent vet must be present at all tracks. Greyhounds should be able to stand up at full height and turn around at all times when being transported.
• Regular independent inspections of tracks and trainers' kennels should take place. Micro-chipping should be introduced for ease of identification and to prevent attempts by those who remove the ears of destroyed animals to avoid identification via ear tattoos.
• Qualifications, involving an animal welfare component, should be introduced by the regulatory body to licence trainers and track staff.
• A compulsory levy from bookmakers to fund welfare improvements should be in place.

What can you do

• Don't attend or bet on a greyhound race.
• Spread the word - let your family and friends know about the reality of greyhound racing.
• Contact your MP to tell them to support the recommendations of the APGAW report with regard to the proposed secondary legislation.