A campaign to end greyhound racing fronted by Hope Rescue has been backed by Members of the Senedd.
The Pontyclun-based centre aims for their petition to be the most signed in Wales.
Now, Mick Antoniw MS for Pontypridd has shown his support after adopting two greyhounds himself, named Eddie and Elsie.
In a post shared across his social media accounts, he said: "I support Hope Rescue 's campaign to ban greyhound racing in Wales.
Read more: Devastating pictures show why rescue centre wants to end greyhound racing
“Every year, hundreds of hounds suffer injury, mutilation and death as a result of being forced to race, with many being 'put down' because of the high cost of medical treatment, or because suitable homes could not be found for them.
“The injuries, deaths and high number of 'surplus' dogs created by the greyhound racing industry are not acceptable, and makes the work of amazing organisations like Hope, who already commit to take in all the stray dogs from six local authorities in Wales (including RCT), even more difficult.
“These beautiful, docile and loving animals deserve better.”
Back in September, Jane Dodds MS, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats and MS for mid and West Wales shared a picture of her ex racing Greyhound Arthur.
She said: “This is my lovely Greyhound Arthur. He was rescued 3 years ago and is still anxious and traumatised by his time racing.
"Please support the campaign to ban dog racing.”
She also called for an end to greyhound racing in Wales in the Senedd , saying her own had an injured neck from its racing days.
Alex Davies-Jones, MP for Pontypridd and Taff Ely also showed her support on Twitter, quoting a Hope Rescue tweet and adding: “This cannot be allowed to continue! #bangreyhoundracing.”
There is currently only one independent greyhound race track in Wales, Valley Greyhounds in Ystrad Mynach.
In a previous statement to Wales Online, a spokesperson from Valley Greyhounds responded to the petition and said, “Data shows that, out of 4,652 runs by greyhounds in races during the period of The Valley's association with Hope Rescue, only 24 greyhounds suffered a serious injury (typically, a bone fracture) during a race.
"This represents a serious injury rate of only 0.5 per cent, compared with an average of 0.6 per cent for the UK's eighteen professional greyhound racing tracks.”
The campaign’s petition currently has over 15,000 signatures meaning it will be debated by the Petitions Committee, with an eventual goal of 68,000.
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