This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd02de0g288o
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| The battle to ban greyhound racing in Scotland | The battle to ban greyhound racing in Scotland |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Narisa Rojanamonthien, who adopted rescue dog Crafty, is backing a proposed ban on greyhound racing | Narisa Rojanamonthien, who adopted rescue dog Crafty, is backing a proposed ban on greyhound racing |
| Once a sport that packed out stadiums across the country, greyhound racing is facing extinction in Scotland. | Once a sport that packed out stadiums across the country, greyhound racing is facing extinction in Scotland. |
| As the nation's last track shuts its door indefinitely, MSPs are considering a bill that would ban the sport for good. | As the nation's last track shuts its door indefinitely, MSPs are considering a bill that would ban the sport for good. |
| Campaigners are demanding Scotland follow Wales in committing to outlaw what they describe as outright animal cruelty. | Campaigners are demanding Scotland follow Wales in committing to outlaw what they describe as outright animal cruelty. |
| Trainers and owners insist their sport is a misunderstood hobby that prioritises the welfare of dogs. | Trainers and owners insist their sport is a misunderstood hobby that prioritises the welfare of dogs. |
| In recent years just one greyhound track in Scotland, Thornton Stadium in Kirkcaldy, has been staging races. | In recent years just one greyhound track in Scotland, Thornton Stadium in Kirkcaldy, has been staging races. |
| It closed until further notice in March, citing difficulties with finding a betting partner and concerns about the proposed ban. | It closed until further notice in March, citing difficulties with finding a betting partner and concerns about the proposed ban. |
| The sport may appear to be dying out, but Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell is determined to keep it that way. | |
| He has lodged a members bill in parliament proposing a ban, though he is seemingly facing an uphill battle to win government support. | |
| According to the latest data from the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB), the sport's regulator, 109 greyhounds died trackside in the UK in 2023. A further 4,238 injuries were recorded. | According to the latest data from the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB), the sport's regulator, 109 greyhounds died trackside in the UK in 2023. A further 4,238 injuries were recorded. |
| "These dogs deserve so much better," says Narisa Rojanamonthien, who adopted rescue dog Crafty in 2023. "They deserve a loving home." | "These dogs deserve so much better," says Narisa Rojanamonthien, who adopted rescue dog Crafty in 2023. "They deserve a loving home." |
| Lorraine Baker runs an organisation which finds homes for former racing greyhounds | Lorraine Baker runs an organisation which finds homes for former racing greyhounds |
| Like many greyhounds raised in racing kennels, Crafty has numbers tattooed on his inner ears, and has struggled to socialise with other dogs and humans. | Like many greyhounds raised in racing kennels, Crafty has numbers tattooed on his inner ears, and has struggled to socialise with other dogs and humans. |
| Lorraine Baker, who runs the Scottish Greyhound Sanctuary, says racing dogs are at risk of shattered legs and broken necks. One dog her organisation took in even had a parasitic brain worm. | Lorraine Baker, who runs the Scottish Greyhound Sanctuary, says racing dogs are at risk of shattered legs and broken necks. One dog her organisation took in even had a parasitic brain worm. |
| "The sooner the ban happens the better," she tells BBC Scotland News. | "The sooner the ban happens the better," she tells BBC Scotland News. |
| Animal welfare charities have also raised concerns about owners euthanising dogs that are deemed unfit to race, whether due to age, injury or simply being deemed surplus to requirements. | Animal welfare charities have also raised concerns about owners euthanising dogs that are deemed unfit to race, whether due to age, injury or simply being deemed surplus to requirements. |
| There were once more than 20 tracks in Scotland. But the sport has been in decline across the UK since the middle of the 20th century. | There were once more than 20 tracks in Scotland. But the sport has been in decline across the UK since the middle of the 20th century. |
| Back then it used to attract punters by their thousands and generated huge revenues as a key part of Britain's gambling industry. | Back then it used to attract punters by their thousands and generated huge revenues as a key part of Britain's gambling industry. |
| In recent decades tracks were marketed to stag and hen parties, or as a fun office night out. | In recent decades tracks were marketed to stag and hen parties, or as a fun office night out. |
| 'Resurgence' fears | 'Resurgence' fears |
| There are fewer than 30 greyhound racers left in the country. Currently without a track, their sport's looming extinction could render moral arguments about a ban redundant. | There are fewer than 30 greyhound racers left in the country. Currently without a track, their sport's looming extinction could render moral arguments about a ban redundant. |
| Gill Docherty, founder and trustee of campaign group Scotland Against Greyhound Exploitation, has spent years protesting outside Thornton and other tracks. | Gill Docherty, founder and trustee of campaign group Scotland Against Greyhound Exploitation, has spent years protesting outside Thornton and other tracks. |
| Her petition calling for the sport to be banned is the most signed in Scottish parliamentary history. | Her petition calling for the sport to be banned is the most signed in Scottish parliamentary history. |
| She tells BBC Scotland News: "If there's not a legislative change yes Thornton might eventually die off, but we don't want to leave that door ajar for a resurgence if there became more interest in it in decades to come." | She tells BBC Scotland News: "If there's not a legislative change yes Thornton might eventually die off, but we don't want to leave that door ajar for a resurgence if there became more interest in it in decades to come." |
| Scotland Against Greyhound Exploitation campaigners are backing a ban proposed by Green MSP Mark Rusekll, centre | Scotland Against Greyhound Exploitation campaigners are backing a ban proposed by Green MSP Mark Rusekll, centre |
| James Shand, an owner and trainer from Cowdenbeath, has been racing greyhounds at Thornton for 40 years. | James Shand, an owner and trainer from Cowdenbeath, has been racing greyhounds at Thornton for 40 years. |
| With the track "highly unlikely" to re-open, he has just given up his last three dogs. | With the track "highly unlikely" to re-open, he has just given up his last three dogs. |
| He tells BBC Scotland News family circumstances mean he is unable to keep the greyhounds as pets. | He tells BBC Scotland News family circumstances mean he is unable to keep the greyhounds as pets. |
| "My dogs were better fed than some of the bairns running in the streets," Mr Shand says. | "My dogs were better fed than some of the bairns running in the streets," Mr Shand says. |
| "That's what really annoys me about the people trying to ban greyhound racing." | "That's what really annoys me about the people trying to ban greyhound racing." |
| He says he has never put down a dog because it could no longer race, and insists he does not know a trainer who would do so. | He says he has never put down a dog because it could no longer race, and insists he does not know a trainer who would do so. |
| As his lifelong passion seemingly dies out in Scotland, Mr Shand is mournful over the dwindling community of trainers. | As his lifelong passion seemingly dies out in Scotland, Mr Shand is mournful over the dwindling community of trainers. |
| "We never even got a last meeting," he says. "So there are boys you'll never ever see again." | "We never even got a last meeting," he says. "So there are boys you'll never ever see again." |
| James Shand, right, has been racing dogs at Thornton for 40 years | James Shand, right, has been racing dogs at Thornton for 40 years |
| If passed, Ruskell's Prohibition of Greyhound Racing (Scotland) Bill would create an offence of permitting a greyhound to compete at racetracks in Scotland, with a maximum sentence of up to five years. | If passed, Ruskell's Prohibition of Greyhound Racing (Scotland) Bill would create an offence of permitting a greyhound to compete at racetracks in Scotland, with a maximum sentence of up to five years. |
| The Green MSP tells BBC Scotland News: "From the dogs' point of view, it doesn't matter whether they're at Thornton or elsewhere in the UK. | The Green MSP tells BBC Scotland News: "From the dogs' point of view, it doesn't matter whether they're at Thornton or elsewhere in the UK. |
| "They're still facing that inherent risk of being raced at speeds of up to 40mph. And that's where they can break their legs, that's where they can break their necks." | "They're still facing that inherent risk of being raced at speeds of up to 40mph. And that's where they can break their legs, that's where they can break their necks." |
| He adds: "And these are just gentle creatures. We shouldn't be putting them under this kind of risk of racing. It's unacceptable." | He adds: "And these are just gentle creatures. We shouldn't be putting them under this kind of risk of racing. It's unacceptable." |
| 'Outrageous' bill | 'Outrageous' bill |
| Paul Brignal has owned Thornton Stadium since 2002. | Paul Brignal has owned Thornton Stadium since 2002. |
| He tells BBC Scotland he has hopes of racing dogs there again but will hold off on any decision until he sees the outcome of Ruskell's "outrageous" and "seriously flawed" bill. | He tells BBC Scotland he has hopes of racing dogs there again but will hold off on any decision until he sees the outcome of Ruskell's "outrageous" and "seriously flawed" bill. |
| As it is not licenced by the GBGB, Thornton has not been compelled to keep a record of injuries and adhere to safety standards. | As it is not licenced by the GBGB, Thornton has not been compelled to keep a record of injuries and adhere to safety standards. |
| Mr Brignal says he would be willing to comply with recommendations from a 2023 report by the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission if it means the track can stay open. That report called for the Thornton to record injuries and have a vet present at race meets. | Mr Brignal says he would be willing to comply with recommendations from a 2023 report by the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission if it means the track can stay open. That report called for the Thornton to record injuries and have a vet present at race meets. |
| He says Thornton has kept track of serious injuries since 2022 - recording six in that time, including one dog who was put down after suffering a broken leg. | He says Thornton has kept track of serious injuries since 2022 - recording six in that time, including one dog who was put down after suffering a broken leg. |
| Greyhound racing has declined in popularity since the middle of the 20th century | Greyhound racing has declined in popularity since the middle of the 20th century |
| Mr Brignal says: "I assure you it is safer for a greyhound to run around a prepared track than it is running around a park or golf course, where a rabbit hole or tree stump can cause a far more horrendous injury." | Mr Brignal says: "I assure you it is safer for a greyhound to run around a prepared track than it is running around a park or golf course, where a rabbit hole or tree stump can cause a far more horrendous injury." |
| But with his track closed for the foreseeable future and the pool of racing regulars shrinking, he says there is "very little possibility" of another track opening soon. | But with his track closed for the foreseeable future and the pool of racing regulars shrinking, he says there is "very little possibility" of another track opening soon. |
| "It would need a large investment for very little return," Mr Brignal says. "So when and if Thornton Stadium closes, then I would assume that greyhound racing in Scotland will end." | "It would need a large investment for very little return," Mr Brignal says. "So when and if Thornton Stadium closes, then I would assume that greyhound racing in Scotland will end." |
| Ruskell's has been backed by MSPs from all parties. The Scottish government, however, has said it is not "convinced" a ban is required. | Ruskell's has been backed by MSPs from all parties. The Scottish government, however, has said it is not "convinced" a ban is required. |
| Ministers have said they would consider a licensing scheme instead, with owners and trainers penalised if they breach animal welfare standards. | Ministers have said they would consider a licensing scheme instead, with owners and trainers penalised if they breach animal welfare standards. |
| The UK government has "no plans" to introduce a ban in England. | The UK government has "no plans" to introduce a ban in England. |
| The sport may be on its last legs in Scotland, but those who wish to see it permanently banned are not nearly ready to give up the chase. | The sport may be on its last legs in Scotland, but those who wish to see it permanently banned are not nearly ready to give up the chase. |