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New Zealand Government presented this Tuesday bill to ban greyhound racing by 2026, because of ““unacceptably high” injury rate this has been recorded among these competitive animals.

“Despite the significant progress the greyhound racing sector has made in recent years, the percentage of injured dogs remains high and the time has come to make a decision in the interests of animals,” said the Deputy Prime Minister. Winston Petersin the statement.

“Even though fewer dogs are dyinginjury rate, which have decreased somewhat, stagnated and remain unacceptably high,” he noted. Peters, also the Minister of Racing, who regulates the racing industry. horse racing and betting servicesamong other tasks.

New Zealand Minister of Racing @winstonpeters about the ban #greyhound racing 👏

“They can race around the park and on the beach, but they won’t race on the track and get injured to the extent that they are.”

video https://t.co/wy7yZo9Dl3 pic.twitter.com/yqSEFLokSI

— Alliance Against Greyhound Racing (@TheAAGR) December 10, 2024

Proposal to be presented early 2025seeks to amend the current Racing Industry Act, with the ultimate goal of avoiding casualties and to bring home the country’s approximately 2,900 registered racing greyhounds.

This measure, which is expected to be approved urgently and will come into force in approximately 20 months, After a transition period he has support from both the ruling Conservative coalition and the Labor opposition.

The announcement was applaud the animal association and was criticized by the greyhound racing industry.

New Zealand Anti-Cruelty Association (SPCA) He stressed that this measure would mean that These dogs will no longer be exposed to unnecessary stress, risk of injury and death.

For his part, the president of the organization responsible for greyhound racing, Racing New Zealand (GRNZ), Sean Hannan, said it was “crushing blow” for this industry and its more than a thousand workers who have jointly taken “important steps to improve animal welfare standards.”

In New Zealand, what with Australia and UK This is one of the countries where this type of competition is popular.There are seven greyhound racing clubs and six racing tracks.

With this measure, the Wellington Government aims to join other countries that have already banned this controversial industryHow Argentina (2016), Uruguay (2018) or the US state of Florida (2021).

(EFE)