Greyhounds endure lives of confinement

Greyhounds endure lives of confinement at the state’s two racetracks, as more than 1,500 greyhounds are kept in warehouse style-kennels.1 At track compounds, dogs are kept in rows of stacked metal cages for long hours each day, with shredded paper or carpet remnants for bedding.2

State regulations require just a minimum cage size of 44 inches long, 32 inches wide, and 34 inches high,3 and do not limit the amount of time greyhounds can be left confined.4

During the month of June 2022, a total of 554 dogs raced at Mardi Gras and 889 at Wheeling.5

A caged greyhound at the Mardi Gras dog track in West Virginia

Racing greyhounds in West Virginia spend long hours confined in small cages. (Maupin Greyhound Racing Kennel, Mardi Gras, 2014)

Hallo Jewel Pak at Wheeling

Hallo Jewel Pak in her cage at Wheeling Island. She later suffered a broken skull after a racing fall and died. (Steubenville Kennel, 2018)

A caged greyhound at Mardi Gras

Bedding at West Virginia racing kennels consists of carpet remnants or shredded newspaper. (Maupin Greyhound Racing Kennel, Mardi Gras, 2014)

A confined racing greyhound in West Virginia

Racing dogs have little opportunity to socialize and play. (Taylor Anne Jones, Mardi Gras, 2017)

Caged greyhounds at Wheeling Island in West Virginia

Caged dogs at Wheeling Island, West Virginia. (Greyhound Relocation & Adoption Canada Forum, 2013)

Greyhounds at the Mardi Gras kennel in West Virginia

Greyhounds at the Mardi Gras kennel in West Virginia. (Maupin Greyhound Racing Kennel, Mardi Gras, 2014)

Racing greyhounds at Wheeling spend 22-hours or more each day in these cages

After a brief period racing, dogs are returned to their cages. (KeepWVgreyhounds, Wheeling, 2017)

A confined dog at the Tri-State greyhound racing track

A confined dog at the Mardi Gras greyhound racing track. (Taylor Anne Jones, Mardi Gras, 2017)

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Greyhound racing in the news

06/03/2026: WV News - Poll: 65% of West Virginians support phasing out greyhound racing, oppose state subsidies

05/30/2026: New York Times - In a Quiet Corner of America, Greyhound Racing Hangs On. For Now.

05/28/2026: Exponent Telegram - Is it time to end greyhound racing in West Virginia? (editorial)

05/27/2026: Charleston Gazette-Mail - Michael J. Hicks: Greyhound racing is a drag on WV economy (Opinion)

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  1. This number is calculated by adding the number of inactive dogs kept at warehouse style-kennels to the monthly active racing dog total (“Trackinfo,” Trackinfo, trackinfo.com, accessed July 31, 2019).
  2. “Greyhound racing FAQ,” The Humane Society of the United States, humanesociety.org (accessed August 1, 2019).
  3. W. VA C.S.R 178-2-26.2b.
  4. Jon Amores (Executive Director of the West Virginia Racing Commission), Email to GREY2K USA Worldwide, July 15, 2013.
  5. “Trackinfo,” Trackinfo, trackinfo.com (accessed February 11, 2021).

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