Bill to ban greyhound racing gets support to progress
The Scottish Green MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Mark Ruskell, has secured the required support to ensure his Member’s Bill to ban greyhound racing will be introduced to the Scottish Parliament.
Mr Ruskell has secured the support of 24 MSPs from across the Chamber, giving him permission to introduce the Bill to Parliament after summer recess.
The proposed Prohibition of Greyhound Racing (Scotland) Bill seeks to promote the welfare of the animals by introducing an offence of permitting a greyhound to compete at racetracks in Scotland.
The penalties being proposed are comparable to the penalties for a person committing offences under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 and will be treated with the same seriousness.
Mr Ruskell said he was determined to push ahead with the legislation and hoped to win the backing of parliament, but, in the meantime, has called on race tracks to “stand up for Scotland’s greyhounds” by ending racing for good.
Mr Ruskell said: “My Bill aims to protect greyhounds from the many risks that come from being forced to race around tracks at high speed. With industry figures showing that the death rate is going up across the UK, it's time to take action.
“Public opinion is on our side, and I am heartened by the support that my Bill has received so far. I urge racecourse owners and the wider industry to listen hard and to stand up for Scotland’s greyhounds by putting paws before profit and ending the races for good.
“I am delighted to have received the backing of MSPs from across the political spectrum, and will be pushing ahead with my Members Bill.
“I hope that the Scottish Parliament will unite behind my proposed legislation and take the chance to act and to save the lives and limbs of countless greyhounds in future.
“You can tell a lot about a society from how it treats voiceless animals. I believe that we are a nation of dog lovers, and that is why we need to ensure they are protected.
“The writing is on the wall for greyhound racing in Scotland, it’s time for us to put the wellbeing of these wonderful dogs ahead of gambling company profits.”
Data from 2023 showed that 109 greyhounds died trackside in the UK, an increase on the number for 2022. A further 4,238 greyhounds were injured during racing in 2023.
A previous petition by Scotland Against Greyhound Exploitation to End Greyhound Racing in Scotland became the most signed in the history of the Scottish Parliament with 28,450 signatures and representations from animal welfare charities.
Mr Ruskell has been a long term campaigner on the issue and worked closely with animal welfare charities including the Scottish SPCA, Dogs Trust, One Kind and others.