If you want to develop your listening skills, try these tasks as you listen to the text. The answers are at the bottom of this page. Thanks to Natasha Groves for preparing the tasks.
If you want to listen and read, just scroll down to the News story.
Use the vocabulary list to check the meanings of some words before you listen.
Vocabulary
ban – (noun) an official order that stops something being done or used
come into effect – if a law or rule comes into effect, it officially starts
skinny – very thin
bet – (verb) to risk money on the result of a race
euthanasia – (noun) the act of ending an animal’s life in a painless way to stop it suffering
euthanise – to kill an animal in a painless way to stop it suffering
wind down – to gradually reduce the work of a business or organisation, so that it can close down completely
rehome – to find a new owner for a pet, usually a dog or cat
affectionate – showing love
Try these activities while listening
1. Listening for main ideas
First, just listen to the text, taking notes if you wish. What information can you catch during this first listening?
2. Now listen again and answer the following questions:
- When did a ban on greyhound racing come into effect?
- How many greyhounds need new homes now?
- When did greyhound racing start in New Zealand?
- How many countries in the world allowed greyhound racing?
- What three concerns about the welfare of racing greyhounds does the speaker mention?
- What happened in April 2026?
- What are former greyhound trainers and owners being paid to do?
- What does the speaker say about greyhounds as pets?
News story
On Saturday, 1 August, a ban on greyhound racing came into effect. 1500 greyhounds need new homes now.
Greyhounds are skinny dogs with long thin legs that can run very fast. They have been used for racing in New Zealand since about the 1950s. People would bet on which dog would win the race. New Zealand is one of just seven countries in the world which allowed commercial greyhound racing.
However, since around 2012 there have been growing concerns about the welfare of racing greyhounds. These included unacceptably high rates of injuries, euthanasia, and high numbers of dogs being kept together in trainers’ properties. For example, a report in 2017 found that between 2014 and 2017, at least 1300 dogs were euthanised. In addition, there was no information about where over 1200 dogs were. After other reports found that the greyhound racing industry had not made enough improvements to dog welfare, the Government passed legislation in April 2026 to ban it from the beginning of August. An agency was established to wind down the industry, support people who worked in it, and rehome the dogs.
There are now around 1500 race dogs which need to be rehomed. Former greyhound trainers and owners are being paid to look after the dogs until new owners are found. According to the Greyhound Rehoming Project, greyhounds are very good pets, as they are generally calm, gentle, and affectionate. They only need a couple of short walks a day and a bit of play. They enjoy lying around and they sleep a lot.
Answers – you don’t have to write a complete sentence as long as you have the key idea in your answer.
a. When did a ban on greyhound racing come into effect?
On Saturday, 1 August
b. How many greyhounds need new homes now?
1500
c. When did greyhound racing start in New Zealand?
About the 1950s
d. How many countries in the world allowed greyhound racing?
Seven
e. Which three concerns about the welfare of racing greyhounds does the speaker mention?
Unacceptably high rates of injuries, euthanasia, and high numbers of dogs being kept together in trainers’ properties
f. What happened in April 2026?
The Government passed legislation to ban greyhound racing from the beginning of August
g. What are former greyhound trainers and owners being paid to do?
To look after the dogs until new owners are found
h. What does the speaker say about greyhounds as pets?
They are very good pets, as they are generally calm, gentle, and affectionate. They only need a couple of short walks a day and a bit of play. They enjoy lying around and they sleep a lot.