Last night, we projected text that read ‘End dog racing in Scotland’ onto Glasgow’s former racing track, Shawfield, Glasgow Green’s Mclennan Arch and Barras Market, below Edinburgh Castle and Edinburgh’s Lothian Road.

 

The projections came on the first day of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain’s (GBGB) ‘Greyhound Week’- a week they say is to ‘showcase the joy and excitement of greyhound racing.’

We also projected an animated video contrasting the fictional lives of a rescued greyhound and a greyhound still in the industry onto the ‘People Make Glasgow’ building in Glasgow city’s George Square and Edinburgh’s Lothian Road.

The projections came on the first day of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain’s (GBGB) ‘Greyhound Week’- a week dedicated to ‘showcase the joy and excitement of greyhound racing.’

There is nothing to celebrate in an industry where 2,718 dogs died and 22,284 injuries were recorded in just 5 years.

Unbound the Greyhound coalition

As a coalition of 9 animal welfare organisations, we wanted to send a clear message to the Scottish Government that the majority of Scots want to see a phase out of dog racing in Scotland.

The greyhound racing industry is dwindling in Scotland: the majority of Scots (6 in 10) don’t support greyhound racing; the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission has called an end to greyhound racing in Scotland ‘desirable’; and our open letter to the Scottish Government calling for a phase out of greyhound racing has secured more than 15,000 signatures in just a few months.

Sign the open letter

Licensing will not prevent cruelty

The Scottish Government is considering licensing greyhound racing, however, licensing will not protect dogs from the inherent welfare risks of greyhound racing.

Will you show you demand a phase out of Scotland’s greyhound racing industry by responding to the Scottish Government’s consultation on licensing greyhound racing, aided by our supporter guide?

Respond to the consultation

Scotland’s last remaining track

Thornton Stadium is Scotland’s last active greyhound racing track. While it is not a GBGB registered track and thus may not be partaking in Greyhound Week, all greyhound racing carries an inherent welfare risk. In fact, as it is completely unregulated, we have no way of knowing injury and death figures for the Thornton track.

Glasgow’s Shawfield Stadium is no longer an operating GBGB track, but there is a risk that the stadium could be revived. This is why it is imperative that the Scottish Government commits to a phase out of greyhound racing to ensure that the industry isn’t re-established further down the line.

Dog racing is on its last legs in Scotland. We will not stop until a phase out is implemented.