17 Deaths, Over 800 Injured: Greyhound Racing Season Ends in Controversy

The 2024/25 greyhound racing season in New Zealand has come to a close with a grim legacy: 17 dogs killed and over 800 injured. This marks the deadliest season for greyhounds since 2021, according to animal welfare group Save Animals From Exploitation (Safe). The final fatality was Opawa Justin, a two-year-old greyhound who won his race at Addington Raceway in Christchurch on July 31 before suffering a catastrophic injury. He fell at the lure and fractured his left elbow, leading to his euthanasia by veterinarians due to the severity of the injury.

Emma Brodie, campaign manager for Safe, described the incident as a stark reminder of the dangers inherent in the sport. 'This young dog gave everything on the track, and it cost him his life. No matter how fast they run or how many races they win, greyhounds are always one fall away from tragedy,' she said. The group has called on Greyhound Racing New Zealand (GRNZ) to take immediate action to reduce the pace of racing and prioritize rehoming efforts.

The number of deaths has increased from 13 in the previous season to 17 this year, with over 800 dogs sustaining injuries, including 114 broken bones. The Racing Minister, Winston Peters, announced a phase-out of the greyhound racing industry in December 2024, with a full ban set to take effect by July 2026. This means the next season will be the final one for greyhound racing in the country.

GRNZ has defended the sport, stating that injuries are an inevitable part of the energetic nature of racing. 'It’s always sad when one of our dogs dies on the track. There were 14 greyhound deaths from 34,308 race starts last season. Nine of these were due to injury and five due to a medical event. This is a rate of 0.41 deaths per 1000 starters, which is once again lower than that for thoroughbred racing of 0.59 per 1000 starters. We would love to have that number be zero,' a GRNZ spokesperson said.

However, Safe has criticized the industry for not showing enough concern for the animals. 'It is disingenuous for Safe to say our people don’t care for their dogs. They’re treated much better than many privately owned dogs. They have annual vet and dental checkups, kennel audits, top-quality food and daily exercise,' the statement continued. 'In contrast, councils across the country euthanise at least 6000 unloved dogs a year. The SPCA doesn’t publish how many dogs it euthanises.'

With the final season approaching, the debate over the future of greyhound racing continues to intensify. Animal welfare advocates are pushing for a more humane approach, while industry representatives argue that the sport has already made strides in caring for the dogs. As the clock ticks down to the end of the industry, the question remains: will the final season be remembered for its cruelty, or will it mark a turning point toward a more compassionate future for greyhounds in New Zealand?