Wales and Scotland outlawed greyhound racing this past week. Both parliaments passed final votes on legislation to end the practice within hours of each other.

The bans address animal welfare problems in the industry. In the Republic of Ireland, thousands of greyhounds go missing each year. The country classifies greyhounds as livestock.

Many greyhounds are culled in early weeks without racing. Others are killed for underperformance or after retirement. Some are exported to countries without basic welfare standards.

Doping occurs among the dogs. Blooding involves using live animals such as hares, rabbits and cats for training.

These issues exist in Northern Ireland as well. Campaigners note the recent bans boost efforts elsewhere.