Welfare & Care

At all ARC greyhound stadia the welfare of the greyhounds is our highest priority. Sunderland Greyhound Stadium is licensed, and regularly inspected, by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) which is the regulator for our sport.

We fully support GBGB’s Greyhound Commitment and its long-term welfare strategy, ‘A Good Life For Every Greyhound’, which ensures that greyhound welfare continues to be at the heart of our sport. As part of this strategy, there are a broad range of initiatives and schemes that help us all promote and protect welfare, across all stages of a greyhound’s life: breeding, rearing, racing years and retirement.

Racing greyhounds live at residential kennels with their trainers and visit the racecourse only when they race. Our trainers’ kennels are routinely inspected by the GBGB and vets to ensure that every greyhound receives the very best care both on and off the track. Trainers’ kennels also undergo independent audits.

When they arrive here at Sunderland Greyhound Stadium the greyhounds are brought into our secure kennel area where they are weighed, have their microchip and markings checked and are inspected by our track vet.

A vet is always present during every race and trial meeting and they check the health and welfare of each greyhound both before, and after, they trial or race.

To find out more about what a visit to the track involves for our greyhounds, read ‘A Greyhound’s Race Day’.

Our track is designed to be the safest possible running surface for our canine athletes.

We have an experienced grounds team who work to carefully prepare the track ahead of, and during, every meeting. We also have regular inspection visits from STRI, who are globally recognised for their skill in the design and management of sport surfaces.

We will not allow any race to go ahead unless all the safety criteria can be met and we constantly strive to minimise the possibility of any injury occurring whilst a greyhound is racing at our track.

As with any human athlete, sometimes an injury can occur – even if this is very minor like a broken nail or a graze – we will always make sure they are well looked after. In the vast majority of these cases, the greyhound will quickly recover following veterinary attention and any necessary rest. In the rare instance that an injury is more serious, our greyhounds receive the appropriate expert veterinary care through our injury recovery scheme so that they can enjoy a full and happy retirement.

Like most athletes, a greyhound’s sporting career is a relatively short portion of their overall life.

Most greyhounds will retire from racing between 3 and 5 years of age. This means that they still have a long life ahead of them as a pet, and retired greyhounds really do make fantastic pets!

Greyhounds are one of the oldest pure breeds in history – they are even mentioned in the Bible and can be traced back to early cave drawings.

Greyhounds make very low-maintenance companion animals and are affectionate and intelligent.

Whilst they love their short bursts of speed, greyhounds are actually known to be relatively lazy compared to other dog breeds of their size. They only need two shorts walks a day and enjoy curling up on the sofa.

Greyhounds suit a range of homes and families – they are generally great with children and the elderly and can often live happily with other pets.

Many racing greyhound owners bring their greyhounds home as pets when they retire, while others choose to use homing charities to help find their greyhound their perfect forever homes.

Our ARC greyhound stadia work closely with a variety of fantastic homing partners who ensure that our canine athletes enjoy a long, happy life on their retirement from their racing career. Our Homing Partners have greyhounds of all ages and temperaments and will help you to find the perfect pet for you.

To find out more about how you could welcome one of our wonderful greyhounds into your home click on the links below to our Homing Partners.