Scottish Parliament votes to ban greyhound racing
Responding to the Scottish Parliament’s vote to back his bill to ban greyhound racing, Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell said:
“I'm delighted that we've got my member's bill over the line and that we will finally end this cruel gambling-led sport in Scotland.
“Greyhound racing belongs in the past, and my bill ensures that no more dogs will be forced to endure it.
“The case against greyhound racing has never been stronger and the international consensus to end the suffering of these dogs is now unstoppable. This week Scotland and Wales have both voted to join the many countries around the world who have already banned it.
“It has been deeply personal for me. In 2015, my family rehomed an ex-racing greyhound called Bert. He sadly passed away last year, he was a wonderful dog, kind and affectionate and so patient with kids and even with cats.
“But what I didn’t fully understand, until I started working on this campaign, was the trauma that Bert had endured while racing.
“It is only through love that these dogs heal from their years spent in an exploitative industry. Over the course of my bill I have spoken to dozens and dozens of dog owners with greyhounds like Bert, gentle souls who had been scarred. I also heard about the patient work of re-homers across Scotland to bring these dogs into their lives and heal them.
“This bill would not have been possible without the support of campaigners, dog owners and the thousands of people who took part in my consultation. It is a big step forward for animal welfare in Scotland, and I am grateful to everyone who has helped us to get to this stage and to get this bill passed.”