Greyhounds in Scotland are being drugged with cocaine to make them run faster, campaigners told Holyrood on Wednesday as they argued the sport is “beyond reform” and should be banned.
Scotland Against Greyhound Exploitation (SAGE) said 13 dogs being raced at Shawfield Stadium in Rutherglen tested positive for doping in 2018 and 2019, including five for cocaine.
But the Scottish Parliament’s rural affairs, islands and natural environment committee heard that drug testing is only conducted in less than two per cent of races.
Shawfield, which is Scotland’s only regulated race track, also recorded 197 dog injuries and 15 deaths between 2017 and 2020.
However, SAGE argued the real death toll north of the Border is much higher as there is also an unregulated track called Thornton in Kirkcaldy, Fife, which is not required to collect casualty rates.
Gill Docherty, speaking on behalf of SAGE, told the committee: “Fundamentally, we cannot ignore the inherent risks of greyhound racing itself. These risks are present whether the track is regulated or unregulated.
“They cannot be mitigated against with welfare measures or cleverly named initiatives. It is a fact that making six dogs race at speed in excess of 40mph counter clockwise round an oval track results in a high rate of collisions and injuries, with the first end being notorious for causing the most injuries.”
Scotland should ‘lead the way’ in imposing ban
The committee was considering the case for a ban after a petition with 130,159 signatures was lodged at Holyrood. Mark Ruskell, a Green member, backed the call and argued the sport was “beyond reform.”
The Scottish SPCA recently came out in favour of a ban on greyhound racing. In a letter to the committee, Mark Flynn, the body’s chief superintendent, said Scotland needs to “lead the way” in imposing a ban.
MSPs will now write to relevant stakeholders, including the Animal Welfare Commission, and to the Scottish Government to seek clarity on regulation enforcement before taking forward the petition.
Mike Bird, the chief executive of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, said: “Welfare is absolutely paramount in licensed greyhound racing and everyone within the sport is committed to upholding the very highest standards of welfare at all times.
“In doing so, we are pleased to have the support of the UK Government who have commended the progress we have made in safeguarding welfare across the sport.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We expect animal owners to care appropriately for their animals and to adhere to all legislation and standards.
“Where the welfare of any greyhound is not being met, the provisions of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 allow for action to be taken by the relevant agencies to investigate and, where appropriate, prosecute cases.”
