The World Greyhound Racing Federation (WGRF), formed in 1969, is an amalgam of countries in which greyhound racing operates throughout the world. The World Greyhound Racing Federation is a non regulatory body in that it does not administer, direct or control greyhound racing nor operate, in its own right, greyhound operations in any of the jurisdictions of its member countries.

The WGRF acts as an international forum for the interchange of information, new technology and other developments to improve greyhound racing globally, and has adopted the preceding statement as its international charter.

Greyhound nations in which greyhound racing has long been established have enjoyed a close relationship with the WGRF, and some of its past Presidents include well known and highly admired administrators from around the world. These include Eddie Keelan (USA), Seamus Flanagan (Ireland), and more recently during the 1990's Lord Francis Newell (UK).

Australia has also enjoyed close ties with the WGRF through past Presidents Neville Bailey, Past President Ross Magin - (Chairman NSW Greyhound Racing Authority, Australia) and Present President Mrs. Jan Wilson.

To support its international charter the WGRF conducts a (Bi-Annual) World Greyhound Racing Conference, the venue for which rotates around the world providing opportunity for all greyhound participants to share in the transfer of knowledge and information.

Greyhound racing has continued to grow throughout a number of European and Asian countries, and many of the principal bodies behind the development of the sport in those countries have acknowledged the important efforts of the WGRF in providing a credible knowledge resource base to support their endeavours, and a forum at which such information exchanges are able to occur. Those countries have benefited significantly from the collective experience of the WGRF and its members.

Moreover the WGRF has also benefited from technology developments in some of the emerging nations. Several pilot studies have occurred in these jurisdictions (specifically closed greyhound racing environments) which now provide real data on which the more mature nations may use in its deliberations and ongoing discussions on these important development issues.

The former WGRF President, Mr Jerry Desmond assisted Minister John O'Donoughue (Arts, Sport and Tourism) in honouring several individuals at the 2003 WGRF conference held in Cork, Ireland. The efforts of those nominated during the formative years of the WGRF contributed significantly to the current universal acceptance of the WGRF as the principal forum in greyhound racing today.

• The registered owner and or keeper of a greyhound shall take full responsibility for the physical and mental well-being of the greyhound and should do so with full regard to the dog's future welfare.
• All greyhounds should be permanently identified, properly registered and records kept by the owner and or keeper.
• All greyhounds should be fully vaccinated by a veterinary surgeon
  and provided with a current certificate of vaccination.
• All greyhounds must be provided with suitable food and clean fresh water.
• Adequate arrangements must be made to allow for exercise and socialisation.
• Breeding and rearing-overproduction of greyhounds through indiscriminate breeding must be avoided. Where a racing greyhound is bred from, the long-term welfare of the bitch and puppies must be paramount.
• Training must be conducted so as to safeguard the long-term welfare of the dog.
• Where destruction is inevitable, greyhounds should be euthanised humanely by the intravenous injection of a suitable drug administered under the supervision of a veterinary surgeon.
• When transported all greyhounds should do so in safety and comfort.
• Wherever feasible, a veterinary surgeon must be present whenever greyhounds are raced at tracks.
• Tracks and kennels must be designed and maintained to ensure the highest welfare standards for the racing greyhound.
• Greyhounds must only race if passed fit by a veterinary surgeon or Steward of the racetrack immediately prior to racing.
• Greyhounds must be entitled to receive emergency veterinary care if injured.
• Drugs, which may affect the performance of a greyhound when racing, should not be permitted.
• Sufficient resources should be made available by the greyhound industry to ensure the welfare of all dogs generated by the industry, whatever their commercial value and throughout their life.