Animal Aid

Abolish the use of captive bolt guns on greyhounds

Every year, thousands of ex-racing greyhounds are abandoned or killed because they are no longer profitable. Many are killed using a captive bolt gun. In April 2010, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons announced that the use of captive bolt guns to euthanise dogs was inappropriate. Despite this, under existing UK legislation, any person can use a bolt gun to kill a greyhound if they are the legal owner – which can result in painful injuries caused by botched use of the weapon.