Mark Bird, Chief Executive of GBGB, has had greyhound welfare at the top of the organisation’s agenda ever since he started in his role.

He explains how a statutory levy on bookmakers will not only build on the stringent welfare standards established by GBGB, but will secure a safe future for every dog for years to come.

It’s fair to say the greyhound industry has come on leaps and bounds when it comes to the welfare of our racing dogs.

Before joining GBGB, I worked in the police for 30 years, with my only experience of greyhound racing being a single night at the dogs in Romford.

When a vacancy came up for its Director of Regulation position, I decided to apply, as I thought I could make a difference with my policing background to potential cases of doping, mistreatment and other problems.

I got the job, and right from day one, my assumptions were dramatically off the mark. The regulatory standards applied to trainers, owners, and tracks were already very high and not what its detractors would have me – and the general public – believe.

In 2018, I was later offered the position of Chief Executive, and I accepted on one condition – that greyhound welfare remained the ultimate priority for the sport.

One of the first actions I spearheaded was the launch of the Greyhound Commitment, a pledge that greyhound welfare is at the heart of everything we do.

This led to successful initiatives such as the Greyhound Retirement Scheme, which ensures racing dogs are financially backed to make that transition into a homing centre and then to find a loving home upon retirement even before their days on the track begin, and the Injury Recovery Scheme, which provides funding to owners to help support them in covering any vet bills associated with treating a career-ending injury.

Our biggest achievement more recently is our long-term welfare strategy, A Good Life for Every Greyhound, led by GBGB board member and animal ethics expert Professor Madeleine Campbell.

The five-year strategy builds on the original Commitment, ensuring that we are doing everything we can to support greyhound welfare through breeding, rearing, racing, and retirement.

But for us to deliver on this strategy and continue to improve welfare, we need certainty that funds will continue to flow into the industry.

Currently, much of this work is funded by a voluntary levy of 0.6 per cent on bookmakers’ turnover on licensed-greyhound racing.

Not all choose to pay, and a voluntary levy, by its nature, is insecure. Indeed, a major betting firm once pulled out of paying the levy after having committed previously, which meant we had to find money from other areas to support welfare.

To ensure we can enhance our welfare provision into the future and make good our commitment to our greyhounds, we are calling for a statutory, compulsory levy on all bookmakers’ income from greyhound racing.

This would put greyhound racing on a par with horseracing – which already collects a statutory levy.

It will provide a truly fair contribution from the betting industry that makes good money from greyhounds’ efforts, and gives punters peace of mind that a proportion of their bets will go towards greyhound welfare and care.

Ultimately, our industry has a collective responsibility to look after the wonderful dogs that make our sport what it is.

From owners to trainers, from regulators to bookmakers, we need to be doing all we can to safeguard welfare standards.

There is always more to be done, which is why a statutory levy on bookmakers’ turnover will give us the certainty we need to plan ahead and secure the welfare of greyhounds for many years.

I would urge anyone who shares this view to sign our upcoming government petition