North Wales MS joins campaigners in Wrexham to call for a greyhound racing ban

A North Wales Member of the Senedd has joined campaigners in Wrexham town centre to raise awareness of the campaign to ban greyhound racing in Wales.

Carolyn Thomas, Welsh Labour Senedd Member for North Wales, is the Chair of the Senedd’s Cross-Party Group on Animal Welfare and has been a long-standing supporter of calls to ban greyhound racing in Wales.

Speaking to passers-by in Wrexham town centre, Carolyn Thomas MS joined volunteers from Almost Home Dog Rescue, a dog rescue charity based in Mold that offers a safe haven and rehoming for dogs, including greyhounds.

Wales is one of only ten countries in which commercial greyhound racing still takes place. But part of the Welsh Government’s consultation on the regulation of animal activities there is a question seeking the public’s views on banning greyhound racing in Wales.

In 2023, more than 35,000 people across Wales signed a Senedd petition calling for a ban on greyhound racing in Wales.

The outreach session in Wrexham was designed to draw people’s attention to concerns about the sport and encourage them to respond to the Welsh Government’s consultation.

Carolyn Thomas MS said: “I have visited dog rescue centres across North Wales and have been shocked to learn of the heinous suffering which greyhounds are subjected to as a result of being raced for sporting entertainment.

“Almost Home Dog Rescue have taken nearly 200 greyhounds into their care since 2018, which reflects the scale of the problem here in Wales.”

She continued: “Many of the greyhounds which end up in rescue centres have sustained serious injuries from racing.

“The evidence is clear, dogs are suffering for the purpose of entertainment and that simply isn’t acceptable.”

Alex Nilan, of Almost Home Dog Rescue, said: “Our event in Wrexham town centre was another step in our campaign to bring about the ending of greyhound racing in Wales.

“We were joined by a number of greyhounds and their owners who had previously adopted from Almost Home Dog Rescue.

“We had many positive conversations with locals, with lots of support for a ban on greyhound racing.”

The Welsh Government’s consultation is open until the 1 March 2024, and can be found here.