Greyhounds and supporters to rally as Scotland and Wales look to ban greyhound racing

The Unbound the Greyhound coalition is staging a rally at the Scottish parliament on Wednesday 18 March. Nine animal welfare organisations are working together to ban greyhound racing in Scotland.

And the rally comes ahead of the Stage 3 vote for the Greyhound Racing (Offences) (Scotland) Bill. In Wales, the Prohibition of Greyhound Racing (Wales) Bill is due to have its final vote on 17 March.

The groups will gather at 10.30-11.30am and will be joined by greyhounds rescued from the racing industry. Mark Ruskell MSP, who brought the Bill, will also be there, along with supportive members of the public, MSPs and organisations.

Coalition member group OneKind points to the industry’s own data. It recorded 2,751 deaths and 26,522 injuries in the UK between 2018-2023. OneKind suggests that greyhound racing is rife with mistreatment and bad practice. This ranges from “dank, dirty kennels” to the use of performance enhancing drugs, including cocaine. The charity claims the root of the problems is that:

These dogs aren’t valued as sentient beings, but rather are regarded as commodities to make trainers money.

Head of campaigns and media for OneKind, Eve Massie Bishop, speaking on behalf of the Unbound the Greyhound coalition, says:

For nearly three years, the Unbound the Greyhound coalition has worked tirelessly, alongside tens of thousands of compassionate members of the public, to shine a light on the suffering these gentle dogs have endured in the racing industry and to push for an end to this cruel and archaic industry in Scotland.

Our message has always been clear: greyhounds are not commodities to be exploited for financial gain. They are sensitive, affectionate, and gentle dogs who deserve to be safe and loved in homes where they are truly cared for. We are grateful to Mark Ruskell MSP for his unwavering commitment to ending greyhound racing in Scotland.

Our rally at Holyrood, joined by supporters from across Scotland and greyhounds rescued from the racing industry, will show the strength of public support behind this Bill. Scotland now has the chance to put this dying industry out of its misery. We hope every MSP will seize this opportunity and vote in favour of the Bill.

The Unbound the Greyhound coalition includes OneKind, GREY2K USA Worldwide, Say No To Greyhound Racing in Scotland, Scotland Against Greyhound Exploitation (SAGE), the League Against Cruel Sports, Hope Rescue, Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, All-Party Parliamentary Dog Advisory Welfare Group (APDAWG) and Animal Concern.

Featured image via the Canary