‘You wouldn't risk the lives of cute Labradors,' campaigners demand greyhound race ban
The whole of the UK needs to come together, say campaigners.
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A GREYHOUND rescuer has called on the Scottish Government to follow Wales' footsteps in banning 'horror' races.
Activists want a nationwide axe on such events after 109 greyhounds died trackside and a further 4,238 were injured according to the last official UK figures in 2023.
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Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell with former racing greyhounds outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh.
Credit: PA
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Lorraine Baker who runs the Scottish Greyhound Sanctuary.
Credit: Supplied
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Racing can cause catastrophic injuries.
Credit: Getty
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They make brilliant pets when rescued.
Credit: Getty
It was announced in February the sport would be banned 'as soon as practically possible' in Wales after a mass petition led to a decision to outlaw the practice.
Now campaigners in Scotland have called on decision-makers to curb what they view as barbaric animal cruelty — a stance backed by Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell who lodged a members bill in parliament proposing a ban last month.
Lorraine Baker, who runs the Scottish Greyhound Sanctuary, told us: 'Apparently we're a nation of dog lovers — unless it's a greyhound. If you took six Labradors and put them on a greyhound track with some food at the end, one of them would win.
'But nobody would think it's ok. For some reason it's different with greyhounds.
'The racing has only been happening for about 100 years and if you go back further than that it didn't exist.
'So it's a relatively short term aberration that needs to be ended.'
Thornton Stadium in Kirkcaldy was the only operating track in Scotland in recent years.
It closed until further notice in March, citing difficulties with finding a betting partner and concerns about the proposed ban.
Meanwhile Shawfield, in Rutherglen, ceased operating in 2020 after 15 deaths and 197 injuries to greyhounds in the preceding three years.
There were once more than 20 tracks in Scotland but the sport's popularity has dwindled since the middle of the 20th century.
Has greyhound racing gone to the dogs?
But it's understood there are still 19 licenced stadia across the UK and that Scottish dogs are often taken to England to race on weekends.
Lorraine has saved greyhounds with catastrophic injuries and believes the only way to ensure their safety would be a UK-wide ban.
She said: 'The impetus for it has gained momentum. I've been involved for 15 years and when I started there was not a great call for a ban.
'But anyone who works in rescue knows it's an unsustainable position. Racing dogs are the most needy.
'They haven't been socialised, 90 per cent are born in kennels. They've been through so much yet are often the easiest dogs to adapt to a new home.
'I think that's because they know they've been rescued and are happy to jump on the couch because they didn't have it before.
'Many dogs are injured and [it's worse] when they die. They often have heart attacks and broken necks. The injuries can be catastrophic.'
Gill Docherty, of campaign group Scotland Against Greyhound Exploitation, spent years protesting outside Thornton and other tracks.
Her petition for a ban in 2019 was the most signed in Scottish parliamentary history with nearly 30,000 signatures.
She said: 'We've been campaigning since 2017, when Shawfield stadium in Glasgow was still operating and had 15 positive drug tests.
'The level of death and injury on UK tracks was wholly unacceptable and our team are all hound owners and rescuers so we know how gentle this breed is, and how loving they are.
'There is no purpose to greyhound racing other than entertainment and gambling and for dogs to have to die for that is appalling.'
If passed, Ruskell's Prohibition of Greyhound Racing (Scotland) Bill would create an offence of permitting a greyhound to compete at racetracks, with a maximum sentence of up to five years.
The Greyhound Board of Great Britain said the bill had 'no relevance' to Scotland as no licenced racing was presently taking place.
But Lorraine reckons Scotland joining Wales in enforcing a ban could force England — where Scottish dogs are allegedly still racing — to follow suit.
She said: 'We need an outright ban across the UK. A majority want it banned and the polls seem to indicate that.'
Ruskell agrees. He added: 'We are a nation who pride ourselves on being at the forefront of progressive fundamental rights, and that should extend to our dogs.
'We must end racing forever. Gambling on the lives of dogs is cruel, outdated and never worth it, and I urge my fellow Parliamentarians and our Government to back my Bill and give greyhounds a better life.
'The Welsh Government has shown that a ban is possible. It's time to follow suit and put paws before profit.'
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