A national ban on greyhound racing has been hailed as a major victory for animal welfare.
The Senedd voted in favour on Tuesday, March 17 of the Prohibition of Greyhound Racing (Wales) Bill, making Wales the first nation in the UK to outlaw the sport.
The law will take effect following a transition period that gives time for the industry to wind down operations, rehome retired greyhounds, and prepare enforcement bodies and councils for the change.
The ban will come into force between April 1, 2027 and April 1, 2030.
Huw Irranca-Davies, Deputy First Minister with responsibility for climate change and rural affairs, said: "Wales is a progressive nation, committed to ethical standards and forward-thinking legislation.
"This Bill strengthens our reputation as a leader on animal welfare and delivers the standards that the people of Wales rightly expect."
The decision to ban greyhound racing comes in response to years of public campaigning, with thousands of people contributing to consultations, petitions, and advocacy efforts.
Charities including the League Against Cruel Sports, Hope Rescue, Blue Cross, Dogs Trust, Greyhound Rescue Wales, and RSPCA Cymru have all welcomed the outcome.
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Jamie Adair, public affairs officer for Wales at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: "Greyhound racing is cruel from the cradle to the grave, so we welcome this ban in Wales and call on the Welsh Government to name a date for it to be implemented.
"The death and injury toll of greyhound racing is quite simply shocking, and goes beyond what people see at the racetracks.
"The successful bill to ban greyhound racing in Wales is a testament to the Welsh Government’s commitment to strong animal welfare laws in the country, backed by the general public.
"We now call on the Scottish and UK governments to follow suit and ban the cruel sport of greyhound racing in both Scotland and England."
Figures from the Greyhound Board of Great Britain reveal that between 2017 and 2024, 1,357 greyhounds died at tracks in England and Wales, and 35,168 sustained injuries.
More than 4,000 greyhounds have died or been euthanised since 2017 because of their involvement with racing according to the Cut the Chase Coalition. Cut the Chase Coalition is the body featuring Hope Rescue, Dogs Trust, Blue Cross, RSPCA Cymru, and Greyhound Rescue Wales.
A petition led by Hope Rescue gathered more than 35,000 signatures, reflecting strong public support for the ban.
Owen Sharp, chief executive at Dogs Trust, said: "Today’s vote in Wales is a landmark moment for dog welfare and a huge step towards ending the needless suffering of greyhounds.
"For too long, dogs have paid the price for this outdated form of entertainment, with injuries and deaths that are entirely preventable.
"While Wales is leading the way, we cannot afford to rest on our laurels.
"With the vote on the future of greyhound racing in Scotland imminent, and racing still permitted in England and Northern Ireland, there is much more to do to end the needless deaths of dogs across the UK."
Claire James, chief executive at Greyhound Rescue Wales, also welcomed the decision.
She said: "After 25 years of tireless campaigning to improve the welfare and regulation of greyhounds and the racing industry, Wales has taken the historic and transformative decision to end the antiquated, cruel and repugnant practice of greyhound racing once and for all."
Chris Burghes, chief executive at Blue Cross, said: "We are absolutely delighted that legislation to end this cruel so-called ‘sport’ has been agreed by Members of the Senedd and will soon become law.
"For the past four years we have been raising concerns with the Welsh Government and Senedd Members that the significant improvements needed to protect the welfare of these dogs have not been made and we do not believe ever will be."
Vanessa Waddon, chief executive at Hope Rescue, praised the collective efforts that led to the ban.
She said: "Having witnessed first-hand the catastrophic injuries suffered by greyhounds racing in Wales through our Amazing Greys project, I am delighted that Welsh Government has put animal welfare first and Wales has become the first U.K. nation to ban greyhound racing."
With Wales taking this decisive step, attention now turns to Scotland, where a similar vote is expected this week.
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