THE GREYHOUND CHARTER MAY 2002  
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The Union of Greyhound Owners welcomes the opportunity given by the publication of this charter for our sport to truly consider the welfare of greyhounds in Britain. 

However, we feel that this initiative will not achieve its objectives without a fundamental change in attitude and working practices from both the British Greyhound Racing Board and the National Greyhound Racing Club. 

In the last ten years over £30M of additional funding has come into greyhound racing from Bookmakers’ voluntary contributions.  Clearly, if a higher priority had been placed on the welfare aspects of the sport during this time, then this funding could have made a huge difference to the lot of the racing dog.  The Future Funding Plan heralded by the BGRB boasts significant increases in funding in the years to come.  It is essential that this extra money be used to improve conditions regarding the welfare of the racing and retired dog. 

Those who govern the sport must be prepared to maintain and publish factual data that will allow the rest of us to see how well they are doing in the area of welfare.  Currently, some information is available to the NGRC and BGRB but is not made public.  The only measure of success for the Greyhound Charter is through the publication of statistics already held and by the gathering of additional information to show that the sport is not merely paying “lip-service” to the idea of welfare bit does truly care for the animals themselves. 

UGO feels the following information should be provided annually as a matter of course. 

• Number of greyhounds sustaining fatal injuries as a ratio of runners both nationally and by stadium.
• Number of greyhounds sustaining serious injuries as a ratio of runners both nationally and by stadium.
• Number of greyhounds cared for by kennel hands as a ratio of hours per greyhound or greyhounds per kennel hand.
• Number of greyhounds entering licensed kennels annually.
• Number of greyhounds retired annually.
• Number of greyhounds homed annually.
• Number of greyhounds transferred to other trainers annually.
• Number of greyhounds put to sleep due to injury.
• Number of greyhounds put to sleep through old age.
• Number of greyhounds put to sleep at the owner’s request.

A database should be set up which would be capable of monitoring the movements and progress of every greyhound from registration to retirement and beyond.  Unless this is created at the earliest opportunity the industry will be doing a disservice to the greyhound population.  

Any statistical information that is already available for the last decade should be made available to the public by the governing bodies to show commitment to transparency and welfare.  Only then will we be able to believe that the powers –that- be will adhere to the points laid out in the Charter. 

Union of Greyhound Owners

17 May 2002 Click Here to see the Charter