Race to the Bottom: Greyhound Cruelty and Why Christians Must Speak Out
In this powerful article, Olivia Bridgen explores what the Bible says about animals, shares examples of Christian figures and makes a heartfelt call for believers to speak up for greyhounds today. Re-posted from Sarx.org, with permission.
Gentle, affectionate, and loyal—greyhounds are among the most beloved of dog breeds. Yet across the UK, these sensitive animals are suffering in the name of sport.
Each year, greyhounds are injured, killed, and discarded by an industry that treats them as expendable commodities. Kept in inadequate conditions and forced to race for human entertainment and gambling profit, they endure lives far removed from the care and dignity they deserve.
There is growing pressure from across society—including people of all faiths and none—to bring greyhound racing to an end. As Christians, we are invited to recognise the God-given worth of these creatures and to speak out against their exploitation.
New figures showing an increase in the number of greyhounds that died racing last year have sparked renewed calls for a ban from animal advocacy charities. The figures, released by the industry’s governing body, The Greyhound Board of Great Britain announced that 123 dogs were killed trackside over the past year. Additionally, there were 3,809 greyhounds injured in 2024. “About a quarter of the roughly 15,000 greyhounds that raced during this period – and it increases the total number of injuries since 2017 to 35,168.”
As people of faith, we are called not only to care—but to confront systems that profit from suffering and to speak out on behalf of God’s voiceless creatures.
St Francis of Assisi: A Christian Witness for All Creatures
Saint Francis of Assisi, who lived in Italy in the 13th century, spoke of animals with reverence and compassion. Since animals are also God’s creatures, he believed we must treat them with love and respect.
In 1979, Pope John Paul II made the Italian friar the patron saint of Ecology and Ecologists. The Pope urged Catholics to follow the example of Francis of Assisi, encouraging them to see animals, both human and non-human, as members of a single Earthly family.
On World Peace Day, January 1, 1990, the pope said this about him:
“As a friend of the poor who was loved by God’s creatures, Saint Francis invited all of creation – animals, plants, natural forces, even Brother Sun and Sister Moon – to give honour and praise to the Lord. The poor man of Assisi gives us striking witness that when we are at peace with God we are better able to devote ourselves to building up that peace with all creation which is inseparable from peace among all peoples.”
The life of St Francis overflows with examples of solidarity with animals in distress—perhaps most famously the taming of a wolf that was terrorising a village. For Francis, even the most misunderstood or mistreated creatures were worthy of compassion, dignity, and peace.
Today, that same spirit must guide our response to the exploitation of greyhounds in the racing industry. Greyhound racing remains legal in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. This competitive ‘sport’ forces dogs to run at high speeds around oval tracks, placing intense strain on their bodies.
These animals are exploited for profit – commodified and used as betting tools rather than beings worthy of care. Betting on their lives not only fuels addiction but promotes cruelty and normalises the idea that animals exist for human entertainment. As Francis showed us, animals are not ours to use—they are our fellow creatures in God’s world.
How Today’s Christians Are Rethinking Our Relationship with Animals
Scripture consistently calls Christians to care for the vulnerable and the voiceless—including animals, who are often overlooked or treated as lesser beings. As part of God’s creation, they are not beyond the reach of Christian compassion.
One particularly striking verse is Proverbs 12:10, which is often translated:
“The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.”
But, as theologians such as Dr. Ruth Valerio have noted, the original Hebrew can be more accurately rendered:
“The righteous know the soul of their animals.”
This translation evokes something deeper than just meeting physical needs—it suggests a relationship, a knowing, a shared life. It tells us that truly righteous people recognise animals as beings with inner lives, worthy of attentiveness and dignity. In contrast, even the most well-meaning acts of the wicked are ultimately self-serving and lack compassion.
This theme continues in Numbers 22, in the story of Balaam and his donkey. When Balaam sets out on a journey, an angel of the Lord blocks his path—though Balaam cannot see it, his donkey can. Three times, she refuses to move forward, saving his life each time. In frustration, Balaam beats her.
“What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?” (Numbers 22:21-39 NIV).
Balaam’s eyes are then opened, and he finally recognises the angel and repents.
If greyhounds could speak today, might they ask us the same question?
“What have I done to you that deserves this abuse?”
In these stories, the Bible calls us to open our eyes—to recognise the soul of the animal before us, and to respond not with domination or violence, but with understanding and mercy.
This moral clarity is not limited to ancient scripture. In the 19th century, Catherine Booth, co-founder of The Salvation Army, offered a striking example of Christian compassion in action. While walking through a village, she came across a man beating a donkey that was collapsing under the weight of its burden. Horrified, she confronted him, rebuking his cruelty in public, and refused to move on until the donkey was unburdened and treated with care.
Like Balaam’s donkey, this suffering creature needed someone to speak on its behalf. Catherine Booth became that voice—reminding us that Christian love must extend to all of God’s creatures, especially those without a voice of their own.
God’s Heart for Animals in Scripture
One of the most influential voices in this movement is Andrew Linzey, an Anglican priest, theologian, and pioneering advocate for Christian animal ethics. teaches that God’s love is meant “not just for human beings but for all creatures.”
Creation exists for God, not for humankind, and humans should care for animals because they are part of God’s creation.
“Since an animal’s natural life is a gift from God, it follows that God’s right is violated when the natural life of his creatures is perverted”
Andrew Linzey. Christianity and the Rights of Animals, 1988.
This theological insight challenges Christians to consider the moral cost of systems that exploit animals for profit and entertainment. The ongoing issue of neglect and mistreatment in the greyhound racing industry is a pressing example—an urgent reminder that Christian concern must extend beyond humanity.
We must raise our voices for the voiceless—for the greyhounds injured, exploited, and discarded by this industry. Christian love calls us not only to care, but to challenge cruelty wherever it hides.
As followers of Christ, we are entrusted with the care of all creation. Speaking out against greyhound racing is not a distraction from our faith—it is a faithful expression of it.
Only when we refuse to turn away from suffering—and choose mercy over silence—can we honour the God who sees every creature as worthy of love.
If you’d like to learn more about the greyhound racing industry and what you can do to help, The League Against Cruel Sports is a leading voice in the campaign to ban greyhound racing in the UK. They offer in-depth research, news, and ways to get involved.
In addition you can:
Write to your MP — let them know it matters to you and request they push for greyhound racing to be banned or tightly regulated.
Support rescue organisations — many, such as the Greyhound Trust, focus on rehoming retired dogs so they can live safe, loving lives.
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