OneKind welcomes the statement, which strengthens the calls from OneKind, like-minded organisations, and the Scottish public for the Scottish Government to phase out the greyhound racing industry in Scotland. 

OneKind Director, Bob Elliot, said: 

‘We are pleased that the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission has explored the welfare of greyhounds racing in Scotland and has concluded that the welfare of these dogs would be improved if they were not involved in racing, thus stating that the end to organised greyhound racing in Scotland would be ‘desirable’. 

‘Greyhound racing is an inherently cruel industry, with these beautiful, gentle and loving dogs treated as commodities.  

‘The industry has absolutely no place in a modern Scotland. Indeed, the popularity of greyhound racing has plummeted in Scotland, with a survey from Panelbase on behalf of GREY2K USA Worldwide revealing that the majority of Scots (6 in 10) believe that the Scottish Government should put an end to greyhound racing.  

Shawfield Stadium never re-opened its doors following the 2020 lockdown and the planning application for the proposed Wallyford track was cancelled in 2021, partly due to an ‘increasingly negative attitude’ towards greyhound racing amongst the public and politicians. All that remains in Scotland is the completely unregulated ‘flapper track’, Thornton Stadium, in Fife.’ 

On the welfare issues of greyhound racing, Bob commented: 

‘Horrifyingly, between 2018-2021 there were 2,412 greyhound deaths and 17,930 recorded injuries amongst registered raced greyhounds. Between 2017-2020 15 deaths and 197 injuries were recorded at Shawfield Stadium in Glasgow. These numbers are shocking enough as it is, but these figures only account for regulated tracks - any deaths or injuries that occur on unregulated tracks, such as Fife’s Thornton Stadium, do not need to be recorded and thus are completely unaccounted for.’ 

‘Time and time again, we’ve seen doping scandals, the appalling treatment of raced greyhounds on and off the tracks, and the heartbreaking accounts of traumatised greyhounds. Once these dogs no longer make money for ‘trainers’, they can also be killed on ‘economic grounds’.

‘We as a nation should be absolutely horrified that these naturally sensitive dogs are being bred into such a dangerous industry, with devastatingly high numbers of deaths and injuries, simply because people want to make money from them.’ 

On calls to the Scottish Government, Bob said: 

‘The strong support for a phase out to greyhound racing amongst animal welfare organisations and grassroots groups and the Scottish public is clear. The wealth of welfare risks in the industry has also now been well-documented by the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission. It is imperative that the Scottish Government listens and commits to a phase out of this cruel industry in Scotland.  

‘Nothing short of a phase out to greyhound racing will suffice.’ 

Notes to Editor 

1. OneKind is Scotland’s leading animal campaigns charity working to end cruelty to Scotland’s animals. OneKind works to expose cruelty and persecution through investigations and research covering Scotland’s wild, farmed and companion animals. Find out more about our work at www.onekind.org. 
2. The Scottish Animal Welfare Commission was established in 2020 to focus on the welfare of wild and companion animals in Scotland while also providing scientific and ethical advice to the Scottish Government. The Commission provides written reports and opinions to Scottish Ministers giving practical recommendations based on scientific evidence and ethical considerations on the welfare of sentient animals in Scotland, and the impact of policy on welfare. 
3. Scottish Animal Welfare Commission’s Report on the welfare of greyhounds used for racing in Scotland.  
4. Contact Eve Massie Bishop at: [email protected] or at: 0131 285 9859 for any media enquiries.