Wellington, New Zealand AP —New Zealand plans to outlaw greyhound racing because too many dogs are hurt or killed, the government said Tuesday, spelling an end to the practice in one of the few countries where it still operates. Commercial greyhound racing continues in the United States, Australia, the UK and Ireland, with only two tracks remaining in the US after many states ended the practice. Unease over animal welfareNew Zealand’s greyhound racing industry has faced repeated reviews in recent years over its dog safety record, with multiple reports urging sweeping changes. A racing industry in global declineSome lawmakers in parliament on Tuesday described the racing industry’s end as inevitable following the steady decline of greyhound racing worldwide. Greyhound racing is also legal in Australia, where critics have decried the practice, and the rules governing it vary by state.

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Persons: Winston Peters, Peters, “, ” Peters, ”, Sean Hannan, SPCA, Arnja Dale Organizations: New Zealand AP, greyhounds, Racing, New Zealand greyhounds, Greyhound, Zealand, Greyhounds, Scottish Locations: Wellington, New Zealand, Zealand, United States, Australia, Ireland, Greyhound Racing, West Virginia, –, Iowa , Arkansas, Florida, Mexico, Vietnam