Greyhounds UK: Identification

The profit-making players have no interest in the collection of information about the greyhounds' future - and every reason to avoid it. A comprehensive database is essential to tackle the welfare issues in the greyhound industry.

Ear tattoos are presently the standard method of identifying racing greyhounds with records held by the NGRC. Even when earmarks are present on abused or abandoned dogs - when they have not had their ears amputated or mutilated - the NGRC refuses to disclose ownership to dog wardens, rescue groups and even the police! This impedes investigation and prosecution.

Greyhounds should be registered on a central database and be identified by present-day methods. DNA sampling is the ideal (as in the USA), but micro-chipping would be a valuable step forward.

We therefore propose that:

Greyhounds should be registered on a publicly accessible database which shows those homed, destroyed or exported.

Until DNA identification is available, all greyhounds bred for racing should be micro-chipped.