The Scottish government has announced its support for a proposed ban on greyhound racing, marking a major step toward ending the controversial practice in Scotland.
The proposal, led by Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell, has already received cross-party support. While the government had previously suggested that a licensing scheme with tougher penalties for trainers and owners might be enough to ensure animal welfare, its stance has now shifted.
In a letter to Ruskell, Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie confirmed that the government supported the general principles of his bill.
“A Cruel Gambling-Led Sport”
Ruskell welcomed the announcement, saying:
“I am delighted that the government is backing my bill. This is a big step towards ensuring that we protect our greyhounds and halt this cruel gambling-led sport for good.”
The MSP also noted that Wales has already committed to a ban, while New Zealand is taking similar action.
“With Wales and New Zealand taking action, we can’t let Scotland fall behind the pack,” Ruskell said. “If we are a nation of dog lovers then we need to back that up with words and deeds, and deliver real protections.”
A Personal Story Behind the Bill
Ruskell revealed that his own dog, Bert, was a former racing greyhound who had been abandoned with a broken leg that had never been properly treated.
“He’s now 13 years old and a completely different dog who has brought such love into our family,” he said. “But he should never have been put through the trauma caused by racing to begin with. There are dogs like Bert all over Scotland and my bill will ensure that they are no longer being damaged and then discarded.
“There is no safe way to force dogs to run around a curved track at 40 mph.”
Animal Welfare Groups Applaud Decision
The Unbound the Greyhound coalition, made up of nine animal welfare organizations, also welcomed the move.
Eve Massie Bishop, from OneKind, speaking on behalf of the coalition, said:
“A nation that considers itself a leader in animal welfare must do better than to permit an industry that has cost the lives of 3,957 dogs since 2017. This isn’t ‘entertainment’, it’s cruelty. And Scots have spoken: cruelty has no place in our national identity.”
Pushback From the Racing Industry
The Greyhound Board of Great Britain, the regulator of licensed greyhound racing, criticized the proposed ban, pointing out that there is currently no licensed greyhound racing in Scotland.
A spokesperson said:
“The people of Scotland will be totally bemused that the SNP government and Green Party are looking to waste parliamentary time banning something that doesn’t take place here, when there are so many issues that deserve and require legislation.”
Greyhound Racing in Decline
Scotland has only had one remaining greyhound track in recent years — Thornton Stadium in Kirkcaldy — but it closed “until further notice” in March.
According to the RSPCA, there are just nine countries worldwide that still allow commercial greyhound racing, including all four UK nations.
If passed, Scotland’s ban would represent not only a landmark win for animal welfare campaigners but also another step toward the global decline of the industry.