New Zealand to ban dog racing

New Zealand has announced plans to ban greyhound racing, citing an "unacceptably high" rate of injuries.

According to foreign media, the sport has long faced criticism in the country, with some breeders accused of animal abuse or doping.

The government plans to shut down the industry over the next 20 months, to allow time for the racing dogs to be rehomed and for people in the industry to move on to other jobs.

In addition to New Zealand, commercial greyhound racing is permitted in Australia, Ireland, the UK and the USA.

"Despite the significant progress made by the greyhound racing industry in recent years, the percentage of dogs being injured remains consistently high and the time has come to make a call in the best interest of the animals," said the Minister of Racing, Winston Peters, on Tuesday.

"This is not a decision that is taken lightly, but ultimately it is driven by protecting the welfare of racing dogs," he said. (A2 Televizion)