New polling commissioned by Greyhound Freedom UK has found significant support for phasing out greyhound racing, with the public backing political action and expressing growing concern about the industry's impact on dogs.
Public Support for Change Outweighs Opposition
After being presented with information and arguments from both supporters and opponents of greyhound racing, respondents were asked whether they supported phasing out the industry.
The results found that 43% support phasing out greyhound racing, while 31% oppose it. A further 27% were undecided.
For coalition members, the findings demonstrate that support for reform has moved beyond traditional animal protection audiences and into the broader public.
Voters Want Politicians to Act
The polling also suggests political support for reform carries little electoral risk.
More than half of respondents (54%) said MPs should vote to phase out greyhound racing, while fewer than a quarter (24%) disagreed.
When asked whether support for ending greyhound racing would affect their vote, 42% said they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who backed a phase-out, compared with just 11% who said they would be less likely to do so.
The findings suggest the public is not only supportive of change, but increasingly expects politicians to take action.
Negative Perceptions of the Industry
Public perceptions of greyhound racing were also markedly more negative than positive.
Nearly half of respondents (46%) said they had a negative impression of greyhound racing, compared with just 16% who held a positive view.
Opinion was similarly sceptical when respondents were asked about the lives of dogs bred for racing. More people believed racing greyhounds experience a bad quality of life than a good one, with concern about welfare emerging as a significant factor influencing views of the industry.
Part of a Wider Shift in Public Attitudes
The findings align with wider evidence that attitudes towards animals are changing.
Recent research from the Vegan Society's Empathy Index found opposition to greyhound racing increased from 55% in 2024 to 60% in 2026, representing the largest attitudinal shift recorded across the issues tracked by the Index.
Taken together, the research suggests growing public discomfort with industries that use animals for entertainment and commercial gain and a desire for stronger protections for animals.
A Mandate for Change
Launching during the centenary year of greyhound racing, Greyhound Freedom UK believes the polling shows England is approaching a turning point.
Public support for reform is growing, political momentum is building, and England is increasingly out of step with other nations that have moved away from greyhound racing.
The coalition will now use this evidence to help drive public engagement, political advocacy and legislative change aimed at securing an end to greyhound racing and a better future for greyhounds.
The public is ahead of politicians on this issue. People increasingly recognise that dogs should not be bred, raced and discarded for gambling and entertainment. This polling shows a clear appetite for change and a growing expectation that decision-makers will act.