Greyhound racing has won a three-month reprieve after an animal welfare boss made a last-ditch visit to the country’s final operating track.
The chair of the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission had been expected to sound the death knell for the sport after a Parliamentary committee asked her for a ruling on plans to ban dog racing.
But just days before Professor Cathy Dwyer was due to give her written opinion, she arranged to visit Thornton Stadium, in Fife, the one venue which still stages dog racing events.
She subsequently penned a letter which gives the sport a stay of execution until the end of February, allowing time to consider all evidence, including the treatment of dogs she witnessed at Thornton last weekend.
Track owner Paul Brignal said: “I won’t pre-empt what Cathy Dwyer finally decides to recommend but she won’t have seen anything at the track to suggest there is any cruelty in greyhound racing at Thornton.
“We had dogs, all well looked after and enjoying themselves, racing on a good surface and a really responsible set of trainers.“
Dwyer’s visit, accompanied by Scottish SPCA chief inspector Mike Flynn, came after a Record feature on dog racing.
Her letter yesterday to Finlay Carson MSP, convener of the Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee, came after he asked her to take a clear position on the issue.
Campaigner Gill Docherty, of Scotland Against Greyhound Exploitation, said there was widespread support for a ban on the sport.
She said: “What we need now is prompt action from the Government on their recommendation regarding unlicensed tracks.
“SAWC called for this type of racing to be banned back in May 22, and here we are six months on with no further action from the Government.”
There are thought to be just 30 trainers left in the sport in Scotland.
Docherty added: “We will be writing back to the RAINE committee to implore them to write to the Government seeking an interim measure to halt greyhound racing at the unregulated track, Thornton, in Fife.”
In her letter, Dwyer refers to the recent review of dog racing by the Dog’s Trust, RSPCA and Blue Cross, which led them to call for a phased end.
She wrote: “We have taken the decision to undertake more research and fully consider the available evidence, in order to reach a balanced conclusion on the issues raised.”
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