A greyhound track in Iowa is permanently closing at the end of a shortened 2022 racing season, marking the rapid demise of the inhumane sport nationwide.

When the Iowa Greyhound Park in Dubuque shuts down, greyhound racing will only remain in West Virginia, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

Animal cruelty is inherent in greyhound racing, highlighted by the sport’s longtime practice of killing dogs that were not winning racers, the AP reported. Performance-enhancing drugging, confining greyhounds for long periods of time, and subjecting dogs to injuries suffered while racing also are points of concern that have led to the downfall of the “sport.”

The end of greyhound racing in Florida, which was for a long time the industry’s epicenter, severely disrupted the formerly multibillion-dollar industry and resulted in a significant reduction of greyhound breeding, Yogonet reported.

The latest track closure brings a much-anticipated end to this brutal industry one step closer.

But West Virginia’s greyhound racing industry appears committed to continuing the cruel operation of the state’s two remaining dog tracks, where races happen five days a week year-round, according to Yogonet. The horrific exploitation of these innocent dogs must stop on U.S. soil.

If you haven’t already, sign LFT’s petition to end greyhound racing in the United States.

SIGN: End the Cruel Greyhound Racing Industry in the US