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VICTORY! The Canidrome has closed. Help these dogs find homes

There are no operational greyhound racetracks in Macau.1 China’s last legal dog track, the Yat Yuen Canidrome, originally opened in Macau in 1931 but closed seven years later due to declining interest.2 The track opened again in 1963, becoming part of the burgeoning gambling scene on the peninsula.3 After years of declining revenue and campaigning led by Anima Macau, GREY2K USA Worldwide and Pet Levrieri,4 the Canidrome finally shuttered its doors for good on July 21, 2018.5

The Canidrome owners did not prepare an exit strategy for the approximate 600 greyhounds in their care.6 Previously, the greyhounds racing at the Canidrome were destroyed when they failed to place in the top three spots for five consecutive races.7 (Some estimates place the number of killed greyhounds at 30 per month, or almost 20,000 total during the track’s 55-year run.8) The last of over 500 surviving Canidrome greyhounds was airlited to safety on June 10, 2019.9

Commercial greyhound racing remains illegal on mainland China, though there is a growing concern about the popularity of unregulated racing.10

Brooklyn was rescued from the Canidrome. Watch his journey to freedom!

Celebrate the Macau airlift victory!

Receive a Limited Edition 10" x 8" watercolor print of Brooklyn with five matching notecards when you donate $75 or more



Meet 5 lucky hounds who were airlifted to safety from the Canidrome in Macau


These are the Canidrome greyhounds - zoom in to see all the dogs!

Main photo by Robin Olive Reich
  1. Associated Press, "Macau takes in 533 dogs after Asia's only race track shuts," The New York Times, July 21, 2018 nytimes.com (accessed July 24, 2018).
  2. Olivia Rosenman, "50 years in operation for Macau’s Canidrome for greyhound races," South China Morning Post, September 1, 2013 scmp.com (accessed July 24, 2018).
  3. K Morrison, "Macau Canidrome closing; must relocate 600 greyhounds," World Casino News, July 3, 2018 news.worldcasinodirectory.com (accessed July 24, 2018).
  4. Raquel Carvalho, "Final battle to save Macau’s exploited racing greyhounds," South China Morning Post, July 23, 2017 scmp.com (accessed July 24, 2018).
  5. K Morrison, "Macau Canidrome closing; must relocate 600 greyhounds," World Casino News, July 3, 2018 news.worldcasinodirectory.com (accessed July 24, 2018).
  6. Ibid; Associated Press/Reuters "Macau authorities take in 533 dogs after only greyhound race track shuts" ABC News, July 21, 2018, abc.net.au (accessed July 24, 2018)
  7. Simon Parry, "Owners angry as Macau Canidrome fails to stop euthanizing retired dogs," South China Morning Post, December 16, 2012, grey2kusa.org (accessed July 24, 2018).
  8. Farah Master, "As Macau's greyhound track shutters, fears over dogs' fate," Reuters, June 19, 2018, reuters.com (accessed July 24, 2018).
  9. International campaign for greyhound adoption ends, Macau Times, June 10, 2019. macaudailytimes.com (accessed July 1, 2019).
  10. Australia Associated Press, "Australian greyhounds ending up in China," SBS News, September 22, 2017, sbs.com.au (accessed July 24, 2018).

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