GBGB welcomes BVA veterinary position on animal use in sport

THE GBGB has welcomed the publication of the British Veterinary Association’s policy position on the "Use of Animals in Performance Sport".

As the introduction to the document explains, the BVA position is consistent with the BVA’s general ethical approach to any human use of non-human animals, all of which "should minimise negative welfare impacts, promote positive experiences and work towards positive welfare outcomes for all animals involved".

That view is shared and supported by the GBGB. The commitment of the veterinary profession to "support and promote practices aimed at providing animals with 'lives worth living' and preferably with “good lives” is entirely in alignment with the ongoing delivery of GBGB’s long-term welfare strategy, ‘A Good Life for Every Greyhound’.

Ways in which the lived welfare experiences of racing greyhounds are being constantly improved, across all five domains of welfare and across greyhounds’ entire lifetimes, are described in progress reports upon that strategy’s implementation.

This includes protections both at and away from the racecourse which are monitored through UKAS-accredited inspections and audits.