CONSULTATION LAUNCHED TO END GREYHOUND RACING
A ban on greyhound racing has moved a step closer with an MSP launching a consultation which could lead to new legislation making it illegal to hold races in Scotland.
Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell has started the consultation which is the first step in Scotland’s legislative process.
Shawfield Stadium in Rutherglen was the last remaining regulated track in Scotland, however no races have taken place since the start of the pandemic. There are current proposals to redevelop the current stadium at Shawfield into a mixed-use development, including residential, hotel and commercial uses.
The Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) is the official body responsible for the governance, regulation, and management of licensed greyhound racetracks in England, Wales, and Scotland.
The last remaining unlicenced racetrack in Scotland, the Thornton Greyhound Stadium in Fife, operates without oversight from any regulatory body, including the GBGB.
Official figures from the GBGB reveal that between 2018 and 2022, a total of 22,284 injuries were recorded and 2,718 greyhounds died.
Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey has thrown her weight behind the plans saying “the time has come to ban greyhound racing for good”.
Commenting, Ms Haughey said:
“With Shawfield Stadium being closed since Covid, and with potential plans to demolish the site, I think the time has come to ban greyhound racing for good.
“Further regulation of greyhound racing isn’t the answer – as it would do nothing to address the dangers of the design and curvature of the tracks or the injuries and the deaths many dogs sadly experience.
“I was delighted to attend an event in the Scottish Parliament earlier this month marking the launch of the consultation on banning greyhound racing.
“Campaigners, including Scotland Against Greyhound Exploitation (SAGE), and charities like the Scottish SPCA and Dogs Trust, deserve immense credit in getting us to this point – and I look forward to supporting the proposals as they progress through Parliament.”
ENDS
Clare Haughey MSP 