The board responsible for regulating greyhound racing in Scotland has hit out at “inaccuracies and misinformation” in the Scottish Parliament after calls for the sport to be banned.
MSPs are debating the future of racing in Scotland, claiming dogs can be poorly treated, susceptible to horrific or even life-threatening injuries, and are even drugged.
Thornton Stadium, near Kirkcaldy in Fife, is the only operational track left in Scotland, and is currently unregulated.
Now the Greyhound Board of Great Britain – which is responsible for regulating dog racing track in the UK – has written to MSPs to raised “deeply held concerns” about the arguments being made against them.
‘Impossible to ignore the brutal reality’
In October, MSPs told the Scottish Government to close down the Fife track “immediately” over animal welfare concerns.
The campaign is being led by Green MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife Mark Ruskell, who said: “It is impossible to ignore the brutal reality.”
Scotland Against Greyhound Exploitation also criticised the track for having no on-site vet, no regulatory oversight and a lack of drug testing.
Fans at Thornton defended the sport and rubbished the campaigners’ claims the animals are poorly treated and drugged to make them run faster.
The Courier visited the track earlier this year to hear what fans and dog owners made of the claims being made.
Track owner Sandy Bingham defended her business, saying it is entertainment, not exploitation, and strongly disputes the claims dogs were being drugged.
Robert, who travelled from Dundee to race his greyhound Roberta, said: “I have been in greyhounds for 40-odd years and the lies that come from the anti-brigade, saying the dogs are drugged and it is a cruel sport, is a load of rubbish.”
We also spoke to Neil McGregor, who has been coming to watch the dog races with his friends for years.
He said: “This is one of the safest tracks in Britain.”
Ban would be ‘damaging’
Regulator chief Mark Baird, along with director Professor Madeleine Campbell, want to meet Holyrood’s rural affairs committee at the “earliest opportunity”.
They said the last debate in parliament saw MSPs quoting from briefings and information provided “only by activist groups”.
They added: “This led to a range of inaccuracies being made and misinformation portrayed as fact, which not only undermined the legitimacy of the process and statements made in public record, but the argument being put forward.”
The pair are worried a ban would be “damaging to greyhound welfare and livelihoods” as it could result in an influx of unwanted dogs which rehoming charities would struggle to cope with.
Their letter added: “Any proposed ban would surely set a dangerous precedent of animal rights over animal welfare that risks the status of all activities involving animals, including horseracing.”
Plea for track to become regulated
Previously, the owners of Thornton Stadium said they cannot afford to join the regulator.
But the regulator now says it wants to work with the Scottish Government to bring the Fife track in line with its licensing procedures.
The letter said: “The highest welfare standards underpin our sport and independently verified data shows transformative improvements over the past few years.
“We have long been clear that we would welcome any government move to bring the unregulated Thornton Stadium, which has been the focus of opposition in Scotland, under our existing rigorous licensing procedures.”
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