Greyhound Retirement Scheme

That this House notes the success in its first year, of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain’s (GBGB) Greyhound Retirement Scheme (GRS); celebrates that, in the last 12 months, nearly 9,000 greyhounds have been enrolled in the scheme and benefitted from their owners and GBGB providing financial support so that they can be successfully retired and rehomed; congratulates the 126 rehoming centres from across the animal welfare charity sector that have partnered the scheme in its first year and benefitted from the financial support and investment available through the GRS; notes that the GBGB has contributed over £1 million to the scheme funded primarily by the bookmaking industry; urges all UK bookmakers to build on their existing commitment to greyhound welfare by contributing at least 1.5 per cent of turnover to the British Greyhound Racing Fund; and congratulates families and dog lovers across the country on their choice of retired racing greyhounds as pets, giving these amazing, athletic dogs a forever home.