A group of animal charities have backed calls for a complete end to greyhound racing in Scotland.
The Scottish SPCA, the Dogs Trust and RSPCA united to call for a “phase out” of the sport in a meeting with MSPs on Thursday.
Speaking to Holyrood’s Rural Affairs and Islands Committee, representatives from the charities also confirmed they have now left The Greyhound Forum - the industry’s multi-agency group.
The Scottish Parliament committee is considering a petition calling for greyhound racing to be stopped.
We told in March how Scotland’s last greyhound track was given a surprise reprieve when a government report stopped short of calling for a full ban on the sport.
A report by the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission (SAWC) into alleged cruelty claims gave the green light for Thornton Stadium in Fife to continue.
But addressing MSPs yesterday, Sam Gaines, Head of Companion Animals at the RSPCA, said she believes the sport is “a long way away” from ensuring the welfare of racing dogs.
Ms Gaines said: “We don’t feel that progress is…moving at scale to actually protect the dogs that are affected by this sport…and so we are now of the view that this activity has to be phased out.”
Claire Calder, head of public affairs at The Dogs Trust, said: “Data suggests that from 2018-2021 over 2000 dogs died or were put to sleep as a result of the industry, and there were nearly 18,000 injuries…
“[This] suggests that racing is inherently dangerous.”
Gilly Mendes-Ferreira, Director of Innovation and Strategy Relations at the Scottish SPCA, insisted current animal welfare legislation is not sufficient to protect greyhounds.
She said: “Why, in this day and age, when we are saying we are a nation that cares about animal welfare, we are saying it is acceptable to have dogs run around a track knowing that they are going to get injured?”
It comes after industry heads spoke to the committee last week, claiming the sport is “humane” despite the figures on injuries and deaths.
Welcoming the input of animal welfare charities, Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell - who backs a ban - said we should choose “paws over profit”.
He said: “There are inherent, fatal risks to greyhounds when they are forced to run around an oval track at 40mph.
“Despite protestations to the contrary from the industry, today’s evidence from leading animal welfare experts shows that the only way we can protect the welfare of these beautiful, graceful creatures is to phase out greyhound racing once and for all.
“No amount of PR from the industry can disguise the fact that this so-called sport is on its last legs and the industry is beyond reform.”
But those involved in the traditional sport insist their dogs love to race and are looked after responsibly.
Despite allowing Thornton to stay in operation, the SAWC report in March recommended a ban on new tracks opening and called for the mandatory presence of vets at races.
The study also concluded that racing dogs generally have poorer welfare than other breeds.
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