Animal welfare groups are calling on the Australian Government to stop the export of greyhounds to Macau.Hundreds of Australian-bred greyhounds are sent to the Chinese special administrative region each year and are usually euthanised after about three years of competition.

It is the only part of China where greyhound racing is legal.

Animals Asia director Ann Lloyd-Jones told Radio Australia’sConnect Asia program animals should not be sent to places like Macau where there are no animal protection laws.

“We need to make a stand that it’s not acceptable for us to allow these dogs to go to a country where we have no control over their fate,” she said.

Ms Lloyd-Jones said she was concerned the trade would increase, with plans to expand greyhound racing into mainland China.

The owners of Canidrome race track, the region’s only greyhound racing stadium, does not allow retired greyhounds to be adopted locally. And due to quarantine restrictions, re-exporting the dogs overseas can be a lengthy and expensive process.

The Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry said Australia supported the efforts of governments in other countries to improve animal welfare.