Scottish First Minister Considers Ending Greyhound Racing Petition
A recent campaign to stop greyhound racing in Scotland was started by a combination of nine animal welfare organisations. A petition to progressively end greyhound racing in Scotland has also been presented by Scotland Against Greyhound Exploitation (SAGE), one of the organisations behind the cause.
Humza Yousaf, the first minister of Scotland, will launch an investigation into the situation at the request of MP Mark Ruskell, who stated that "no dog deserves to be forced into a gambling-led industry with an unacceptable risk of injury and death."
Vowing to take the petition into consideration:
The coalition of nine animal protection organisations, including OneKind, Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, League Against Cruel Sports, Grey2K USA Worldwide, Animal Concern, Hope Rescue, All-party Parliamentary Dog Advisory Welfare Group, Scotland Against Greyhound Racing, and Say No to Greyhound Racing in Scotland, gathered under the hashtag #UnboundTheGreyhound on the same day that the First Minister responded to Mark Ruskell's request to review the petition. According to the campaign, there is just one unauthorised track left in Scotland, meaning that the country's greyhound racing sector is in serious trouble. The majority of Scots, according to polling, want the Scottish government to put a stop to this horrific industry, which involves doping, amputations, and the deaths and injuries of dogs.
Yousaf responded to the petition by saying: "I believe that the government's policy should put animal welfare at the forefront, and I would take such measures into consideration. Naturally, I'm eager to see how we can make Mark Ruskell's request more effective. Although we have an excellent track record in terms of animal care, I believe that we still have a ways to go. Mark Ruskell's request will be examined in depth, and I will reply to him regarding our future strategies as soon as possible.
Scottish Greens MSP as top backer of the campaign:
Mark Ruskell, a Scottish Greens MSP who has long advocated for outlawing greyhound racing, has declared his support for the cause. This included a petition for the closure of Scotland's final unlicensed racetrack, Thornton Greyhound Stadium, and a resolution to the Scottish Parliament praising its formation.
Ruskell spoke about the subject with the First Minister of Scotland and said, "I appreciate the First Minister's involvement and am delighted that he shares my worries. I'm hoping we can cooperate to gradually phase out greyhound racing. No dog should be subjected to the dangers that drive this business. It is encouraging to see so many individuals speaking with one voice to call for the eventual abolition of greyhound racing in Scotland. We are driven by a concern for these lovely animals' wellbeing and a want to see to it that they are looked after and safeguarded. It is past time for the owners of Thornton Greyhound Stadium and everyone else who purposefully endangered these dogs to work together to find loving forever homes for the greyhounds who are still stuck in this high-risk, gambling-driven industry and permanently close their racetracks. I hope the First Minister's concern and the rising strength in numbers serve as a warning to the sector that its days are numbered.
