Will you show your support for an end to the greyhound racing industry by responding to the Scottish Government’s consultation on licensing greyhound racing, aided by our supporter guide?

The Scottish Government is considering licensing greyhound racing, amongst several other activities involving animals. Licensing will not protect dogs from the inherent welfare risks of greyhound racing and therefore we will be responding to highlight the need for a phased end to greyhound racing instead.

It is also imperative that the Scottish Government commits to a phase out of greyhound racing to ensure that the industry isn’t revived and expanded in Scotland further down the line.

Supporter guide

RESPOND TO THE CALL TO VIEWS

Please note that while the consultation includes other areas of licensing for activities involving animals, you can submit the form having responded to the area on greyhound racing only.

Those who are not resident in Scotland are also welcome, and encouraged, to respond.

31. Do you agree that operators of greyhound racing tracks should be made subject to a statutory licensing scheme?

We would suggest answering ‘Not sure’.

OneKind strongly believes that the Scottish Government should put an end to greyhound racing in Scotland by implementing a phase out of the industry, rather than allow this industry to continue under a licensing scheme.

We would suggest responding with ‘Not sure’ rather than ‘no’ so that it does not appear that you wish to see no action on greyhound racing taken.

32. If you do not support the introduction of statutory licensing, what controls, if any, would you otherwise recommend?

You may wish to express your support for a phase out of greyhound racing in Scotland instead of licensing of greyhound racing.

In your response, you may choose to use the following points to explain why you wish to see an end to the industry:

• Only a phase out of greyhound racing will put an end to the suffering of dogs involved in the industry.
• The greyhound racing industry is on its last legs in Scotland, with dwindling public support
• The majority of the Scottish public (60%) support an end to greyhound racing in Scotland.
• An open letter to the Scottish Government to phase out greyhound racing from the Unbound the Greyhound coalition has secured more than 8,000 signatures in 5 weeks.
• Petition 1758 to end greyhound racing in Scotland from Scotland Against Greyhound Exploitation (SAGE) is the most signed parliamentary petition in the Scottish Parliament’s history.
• The Scottish Animal Welfare Commission has called an end to greyhound racing in Scotland ‘desirable’.
• Regulation has clearly failed in the case of licensed Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) tracks

- A shocking total of 22,284 injuries were recorded and 2,718 greyhounds died between 2018-2022.

- Of the 2,718 dogs that died, 675 of those were destroyed not for medical reasons, but because their treatment was deemed too expensive, they were homeless, designated ‘unsuitable for homing’, or, effectively, surplus to requirements.

- In 2018, the GBGB made its commitment to ‘further protect and promote welfare’. Despite this, in all years since, except 2020 when tracks were temporarily shut due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the injury rate has been higher.

- The regulated dog racing industry is rife with welfare issues, including injuries, deaths, doping, inadequate kennel conditions, overbreeding and the possible long-term impact on the dogs involved.

• There are many greyhounds rescued from GBGB trainers with tragic stories. You may wish to mention the following cases:

- Rebecca Perkins, who was recently jailed for animal cruelty for causing greyhounds to ‘suffer unnecessarily’, was a GBGB trainer of 17 years. She left greyhounds to starve in dirty kennels surrounded by their own faeces and, in at least one case, the dead bodies of their kennel mate. Three dogs had to be euthanised and one died on her way to the vet.

- Dudleys Forever, a greyhound that had been raced by her former GBGB trainer, Chris Sillars, at Glasgow’s Shawfield Stadium was discovered so emaciated that she weighed only 16kg and had to be euthanised.

33. Do you support the proposal to require veterinary presence when greyhounds are racing to allow pre and post-race health checks of dogs and ensure prompt veterinary care of any injured dog?

We would suggest responding with ‘Yes’.

OneKind does not support licensing greyhound racing as an alternative to implementing a phase out to the industry. However, we do think that it is critical that a vet is present while greyhounds are still being made to race.

You may wish to note this and include the below points:

• We agree with the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission’s conclusion that independent tracks impose specific risks on dog welfare through lack of immediate veterinary care to injured dogs and general veterinary oversight of the dogs. Vets on site should also have the power to prevent a dog racing if deemed unfit.
• We also strongly recommend that a veterinary presence is required at greyhound racing tracks during any phase out period.
• While the presence of a vet may offer the dogs being made to race better protection at the track and prompt treatment when injured, it will not prevent those injuries or combat the wider inherent issues of greyhound racing. Only a phase out will ensure dogs are not suffering in this industry.

34. Do you agree with the proposal that greyhound tracks are required to renew their licence annually instead of up to 3 years, due to the higher animal welfare risks?

We would suggest responding with ‘Yes’.

We are very clear that we want to see a phase out to greyhound racing, however if licensing is to be introduced in the meantime, then we would support the proposal that any licenses must be renewed annually.

35. Do you know of any challenges or negative consequences that may arise from the introduction of statutory licensing for greyhound racing?

We would suggest responding with ‘Yes’.

If Scotland’s greyhound racing industry is licensed rather than phased out, this will provide an opportunity for new greyhound tracks to be introduced. An increase in greyhound racing tracks would increase the number of dogs suffering in this industry.

You may wish to also include the following points:

• Licensing will not put an end to the injuries and deaths that are inherent to how greyhound racing is carried out. Licensing by already overstretched local authorities will also be unlikely to be able to tackle other animal welfare issues such as doping, inadequate kennel conditions, overbreeding and the possible long-term impact on the dogs involved.
• Greyhound racing tracks that are licensed by GBGB have shocking rates of greyhound injuries and deaths.
• Between 2018-2020 there were 14 GBGB confirmed doping cases at Glasgow’s former Shawfield Stadium. It is important to note drug testing is only carried out in a small minority of dogs.
• The Scottish Animal Welfare Commission has recommended that no further new greyhound racing tracks should be introduced in Scotland.
• Greyhound racing feeds into the idea that greyhounds can be exploited for profit, whether licensed or not. Only a phase out can put an end to this notion.

36. Are you aware of any examples of how any of the proposals above may impact, either positively or negatively, on those with protected characteristics?

We would suggest responding with ‘No’.

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OneKind has joined forces with 8 other animal welfare organisations to call on the Scottish Government to Unbound the Greyhound and end greyhound racing in Scotland.

Please add your name to our coalition’s open letter calling for an end to greyhound racing in Scotland, through a phase out of the industry.

SIGN THE OPEN LETTER