Scottish Greens welcome rising support for greyhound racing ban
Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell has welcomed support from the SSPCA and others for a petition calling for a ban on Greyhound racing.
The SSPCA, OneKind, League Against Cruel Sports Scotland, and the All-Party Parliamentary Dog Advisory Welfare Group have called for an end to greyhound racing, with mounting evidence of animal welfare concerns presented at the Rural Affairs, Islands, and Natural Environment (RAINE) Committee this morning.
The RAINE Committee considered petition PE1758: End Greyhound Racing in Scotland lodged by Scotland Against Greyhound Exploitation alongside written evidence submitted by animal welfare organisations this morning.
The Mid Scotland and Fife MSP highlighted the concerning lack of regulation and transparency as evidenced by the rising number of injuries and deaths of racing greyhounds.
Despite the “Greyhound Commitment” introduced by the official regulatory body Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) in 2018 to improve the welfare of greyhounds and reduce the number of injuries, a doubling of injuries was reported in 2020 compared to 2018 at the last remaining licensed racing track in Scotland, Shawfield Stadium.
This raises further concerns about the state of the unlicensed track, Thornton Greyhound Stadium, in Fife which operates without the presence of a vet or regulation from GBGB to ensure that even the most minimal animal welfare standards are met. There is no available data on injuries and deaths at Thornton or requirement for data on this to be collected.
Commenting further, Mark Ruskell MSP said: “The growing evidence is clear that even on licensed tracks, greyhounds are at risk of serious harm, injury, and even death. That’s why the SSPCA are joining the rising calls for a ban.
“In Scotland, greyhound racing is on its last legs. With only one licensed track left, it’s time to act decisively to protect the welfare of greyhounds and finally put an end to it.”