Thousands of dogs are injured at race tracks every year

At American dog tracks, greyhounds routinely suffer serious injuries. From 2010 through 2021, a total of 12,951 greyhound injuries have been documented. The most commonly reported injury was a broken leg. Other injuries included head trauma, electrocution, and broken backs.



At two West Virginia dog tracks, 8,749 greyhound injuries were reported from 2010 through 2022, including at least 295 dogs that died or were destroyed.

In Texas where dog racing is no longer active, 1,928 greyhound injuries were reported from 2010 through 2020, including at least 80 dogs that died or were destroyed.

At Southland Greyhound Park in Arkansas, 1,295 greyhound injuries were reported from 2010 through 2021, including at least 13 dogs that died or were destroyed.

In Iowa where dog racing is no longer active, 482 greyhound injuries were reported at Iowa Greyhound Park from 2010 through 2021, including at least 21 dogs that died or were destroyed.

In Florida where dog racing is now illegal, only one track was ever required to disclose injuries to the public. At the Sanford Orlando Kennel Club, 169 greyhound injuries were reported from May 2017 through March 2020, including at least eleven dogs that died or were destroyed.

Greyhounds suffer injuries around the world

Greyhound racing injuries have also been documented in other countries. In Australia, from 2016 through 2021, 33,537 injuries were identified, and 15,384 greyhounds have been reported dead by the industry.

Tracks in the United Kingdom were not required to make injury information public until 2017, but GREY2K USA Worldwide conducted an analysis of injury information obtained from the social media accounts of leading industry members. A total of 276 specific greyhound injuries dating from 2006 to June 2014 could be documented. As in other racing jurisdictions, bone fractures were overwhelmingly the most frequently reported injury.

The Greyhound Board of Great Britain’s 2021 reports identified 22,767 injuries, including 2,166 greyhounds killed due to injury.

In Ireland, between 2015 and 2020, 2,146 injuries were documented, including 715 track fatalities.

New Zealand identified 1,737 injuries during the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 financial years. From 2014 through 2022, 2,797 greyhounds were reported dead.

Mexico and Vietnam do not publish injury data.




More ways to help dogs

Pledge monthly >
Sign our petitions >

Stay up to date and learn how you can help.