[ad_1]
New Zealand has introduced plans to ban greyhound racing, citing an “unacceptably high” price of accidents.
The sport has lengthy confronted criticism within the nation, with some breeders accused of mistreating or doping the animals.
The authorities plans to wind down the business over the following 20 months, to permit time for the rehoming of racing canines and for individuals within the business to transition to different jobs.
Apart from New Zealand, industrial greyhound racing is allowed in Australia, Ireland, the UK and the US.
“Despite significant progress made by the greyhound racing industry in recent years, the percentage of dogs being injured remains persistently high and the time has come to make a call in the best interest of the animals,” Racing Minister Winston Peters mentioned in a press release on Tuesday.
“This is not a decision that is taken lightly but is ultimately driven by protecting the welfare of racing dogs,” he mentioned.
The authorities on Tuesday launched a invoice on to stop the pointless killing of racing canines, which “will be passed under urgency”, mentioned Peters, who can also be New Zealand’s deputy prime minister.
Further laws shall be tabled to allow the tip to greyhound racing, he mentioned.
There have been three critiques of the greyhound racing business over the previous decade, all recommending important modifications.
In 2021, 232 racing greyhounds died and 900 suffered accidents, in line with native media studies.
The business was positioned “on notice” by the federal government in September that 12 months, however the deaths and accidents continued. Animal rights group Safe logged greater than 2,500 accidents and almost 30 deaths within the two-and-a-half years that adopted.
A key job now could be to rehome the estimated 2,900 racing greyhounds that stay within the nation.
Animal rights teams which have lengthy fought for the business to be closed cheered Tuesday’s announcement, with Safe calling it a “monumental win for animal rights”.
New Zealand’s oldest animal welfare charity SPCA mentioned it’s “esctatic” on the transfer and known as on different international locations that enable greyhound racing to comply with go well with.
However Greyhound Racing New Zealand, an business affiliation comprising greyhound racing golf equipment throughout the nation, mentioned it’s “devastated” by the federal government’s proposal.
“The greyhound racing community is left reeling from the announcement, with many voicing concerns over the potential cultural and economic void this decision will create,” mentioned the affiliation’s chairman Sean Hannan.
Greyhound racing accounts for 8.5% of New Zealand’s NZ$1.3b ($760m; £595) racing business, with simply over 1,000 full-time jobs, knowledge confirmed.
“The government’s decision to close the industry is profoundly disappointing, as it overlooks the meaningful progress we have achieved,” mentioned Hannan, who additionally urged the federal government to rethink its determination.
[ad_2]
Source link
