The battle to ban greyhound racing in Scotland

Once a sport that packed stages throughout the country, greyhound races face extinction in Scotland.

As the last track of the nation closes indefinitely, the MSPs are considering a bill that would prohibit sport forever.

Activists demand that Scotland follow Wales to commit to prohibit what they describe as true animal cruelty.

The coaches and owners insist that their sport is an misunderstood hobby that prioritizes the well -being of dogs.

In recent years, only a Grayhound song in Scotland, Thornton Stadium in Kirkcaldy, has been organizing races.

He closed until again in March, citing difficulties in finding a companion of bets and concerns about the prohibition of proposal.

Sport may seem to die. The Scottish green MSP Mark Ruskell is determined to keep it that way.

He has submitted a member bill in Parliament that proposes a prohibition, although apparently faces a uphill battle to gain government support.

According to the latest data from the Great Britain Board of Grayhound (GBGB), the sports regulator, 109 Greyhouings died on the track in the United Kingdom in 2023. Another 4.238 injuries were recorded.

“These dogs deserve much better,” says Narisa Rojanamonthien, who adopted Crafty rescue dog in 2023. “They deserve a loving home.”

Like many greyhounds raised in racing kennels, Crafty has tattooed numbers in their internal ears and has fought to socialize with other dogs and humans.

Lorraine Baker, who runs the Sanctuary of Greyhound Scottish, says racing dogs run the risk of shattered legs and broken necks. A dog in his organization even had a parasite brain worm.

“The sooner the ban on, the better,” he tells BBC Scotland News.

Animal welfare couples have also raised groups about owners who euthanize dogs that are considered not suitable for the race, either due to age, injuries or simply being considered surplus of the requirements.

There were once again 20 tracks in Scotland. But sport has a decline leg throughout the United Kingdom as the mid -twentieth century.

At that time he used to attract pages for his thousands and generated great income as a key part of the Great Britain’s game industry.

In recent decades, the clues were marketed at deer and chickens parties, or as a fun office night.

30 Greyhound Galgo runners are left in the country. Currently without a track, the imminent extinction of his sport could be moral arguments about a redundant prohibition.

Gill Docherty, founder and administrator of the Scotland campaign group against Greyhound’s exploitation, has spent years protesting outside Thornton and other clues.

His request that asks that sport be prohibited is the most signed in Scottish parliamentary history.

She tells BBC Scotland News: “If there is no legislative change, yes, Thornton could be possible, but we don’t want to leave that on the part of a resurgence if there is more interest in the next decades.”

James Shand, owner and coach of Cowdenbeath, has been competing with Greyhoups in Thornton for 40 years.

With the song “Very unlikely” to reopen, he has just given up his last three dogs.

It tells BBC Scotland News, family circumstances mean that it cannot keep the gray as pets.

“My dogs were better fed than some of the Bairns running on the streets,” says Shand.

“That is what really bothers me from people who try to ban races.”

He says he has never left a dog because he could no longer run, and insists that he doesn’t know a coach who would.

As his lifelong passion apparently dies in Scotland, Shand is sad about the decrease in the community of coaches.

“We never have a last meeting,” he says. “So there are children who will never see again.”

If approved, Ruskell’s prohibition by Greyhound Racing (Scotland) Bill would create an offense to allow a greyhound to compete in Racracks in Scotland, with a maximum prayer of up to five years.

The Green MSP tells BBC Scotland News: “From the point of view of dogs, it does not matter if they are in Thornton or in other places in the United Kingdom.

“They still face that inherent risk of bee running at speeds of up to 40 mph. And that’s where their legs can break, that is where their neck can be broken.”

He adds: “And these are just gentle creatures. We should go put them under this son of racing risk. It is unacceptable.”

Paul Brignal has owned the Thornton Stadium since 2002.

He tells the BBC Scotland that he hopes to run to dogs there again, but will retain any decision until he sees the result of the bill “scandalous” and “seriously.”

As you have no license for the GBGB, Thornton has not been forced to maintain a record of injuries and adhere to safety standards.

Brignal says he would be willing to comply with the recommendations of a 2023 report of the Animal Scottish Welfare Commission if it means that the track can remain open. That report requested that Thornton register injuries and have a fat gift at career meetings.

He says that Thornton has monitored serious injuries since 2022, registering six at that time, including a dog that was shot down after suffering a broken leg.

Mr. Brignal says: “I succeed, it is safer for a Gryhound to run around a track at the head of what runs around a golf park or field, where a burrow or a rabbit tree causes a much more horrible injury.”

But with his closed song for the planned future and the regular group of races that shrink, he says that there is “very little possibility” or another son of opening of the track.

“I would need a great investment for very little performance,” says Brignal. “Then, when and if the Thornton stadium closes, I would assume that Grayhound’s races in Scotland will end.”

Ruskell has been supported by MSP from all parties. However, the Scottish government has said that it is not “convinced” that a prohibition is required.

The ministers have said they would consider a license scheme, with the owners and penalty coaches if they violate animal welfare standards.

Grayhound Board of Great Britain said the bill “had no relevance” for Scotland, since currently no license races were being carried out.

Executive President Mark Bird said: “This is confused and poorly thought legislation with implications that go far beyond the mandate of gray races in Scotland.”

He added: “This bill ignores the substantial evidence that demonstrates the need for effective regulation to safeguard Grayhound’s well -being.”

The United Kingdom government “has no plans” to introduce a ban in England.

Sport can be in their last legs in Scotland, but all who wish to see it permanently prohibited are almost ready to give up persecution.