The New Zealand government have announced plans to ban greyhound racing once and for all to protect the welfare of the racing dogs.
New Zealand Racing Minister Winston Peters confirmed on Tuesday that despite significant progress in recent years, "the time has come" to ban the sport in the country.
It has also been revealed that legislation will be passed under urgency to prevent any unnecessary killings of racing dogs due to the banning announcement.
"This is not a decision that is taken lightly but is ultimately driven by protecting the welfare of racing dogs," Racing Minister Winston Peters said in an announcement on Tuesday afternoon.
"Despite significant progress made by the greyhound racing industry in recent years, the percentage of dogs being injured remains persistently high and the time has come to make a call in the best interest of the animals,"
