6. Debate on the Petitions Committee Report, 'The Final Bend? P-06-1253 Ban greyhound racing in Wales'

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:22 pm on 8 March 2023.

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Photo of Delyth Jewell Delyth Jewell Plaid Cymru 4:22, 8 March 2023

Thank you for that contribution. I would, obviously, echo the point that Buffy made earlier, that there are many, many greyhound owners who really, really care for their dogs. I'm not trying to in any way insinuate that this covers all greyhound owners. I thank you for that contribution. But I'm sure that you would agree with me that any dogs who have to go through these horrific injuries—that is too many and that's why we need to have a real, fundamental change, and that's why I, at least, think that there should be a ban. But I thank you for that intervention.

So, if we come back to this idea of puppies who are considered as surplus, either because of overbreeding or underperforming in training, they are often killed; they disappear, and they're called wastage, like they're scraps of meat or faulty parts—rubbish that's going to be just thrown away.

Sport should be entertainment; it should be about talent and celebration and energy and excitement. How anybody can look at pictures of dogs' carcasses and think that that's what sport is about is just beyond me. We need to cut out this cruelty, we need to cut to the chase, and we need to ban greyhound racing in Wales.

I'll say a word, if I may, Dirprwy Lywydd, about the Valley Greyhound Stadium near Ystrad Mynach. They have submitted, as we've already heard, two planning applications to develop their site: the first was refused in November; the second was refused last month. Now, planning decisions can't be based on questions of cruelty, of course. They were refused, as I understand it, because of a lack of a flood-consequences assessment and problems with the transport statement—that is, the site would be bad news for the community under these plans for other reasons, quite apart from questions of brutality.

I understand that the flood risk was played down, perhaps even denied, in the first application that went in. That information, if it had gone in, would, of course, have been incorrect, and I myself have spoken to residents near that area who were flooded in 2020.

But there's a concern that the track owner has gone ahead with developing the site, apparently working on kennels, a judges' box, extending the bookmakers' space. There are also questions around why so many kennels are planned for—200—if the intention is only to house the greyhounds on race nights, when no more than 60 or 70 greyhounds would be racing on any given night. What exactly are the owners planning for?

Wales, as we've heard, is an outlier in this, Dirprwy Lywydd. We are one of only 10 countries where greyhound racing is allowed to continue. I think we need to get rid of this anomaly that hangs around our necks. Let's bring an end to this practice of putting profit above the welfare of these graceful, gentle creatures. And I take again the points that have been made in intervention on me and by Joel in his contribution. Of course, there will be so many people who love and care for their greyhounds, but any dogs that, because of this practice, are actually born to suffer, I think that that is—. It's a disgrace, and, because of that, I really would urge Members to give a signal with this motion and to begin a process that we all—. Well, many of us, I hope, will want to see an end to greyhound racing in Wales.