A ban on greyhound racing has been imposed in New Zealand due to a “unacceptably high” injury rate.
Some breeders have been accused of mistreating or doping the animals, which has led to long-standing criticism of the sport in the nation.
Over the course of the next 20 months, the government intends to shut down the racing dog sector to give time for the rehoming of the dogs and for those involved to find new employment.
Commercial greyhound racing is permitted in Australia, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with the exception of New Zealand.
“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,” Winston said.
