Smiling greyhound
Holyrood Backing For Greyhound Racing Scotland Bill Is “a Crucial Step Forward For Animal Welfare”, Says Dogs Trust
2 hours ago 
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The Scottish Parliament’s decision to continue progressing the Greyhound Racing (Offences) Scotland Bill through Holyrood has been welcomed as a significant milestone for dog welfare by Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity.
Earlier this evening (29th January 2026), MSPs voted in favour of the Bill progressing through Stage 1 of its journey through Holyrood, marking clear parliamentary support for bringing greyhound racing to an end in Scotland. If the bill, introduced by Mark Ruskell MSP, completes all necessary stages, it will become an offence to race greyhounds on oval racetracks in Scotland.
The announcement came on the same day Dogs Trust hosted an event in Holyrood, where it shared its manifesto for Scotland, and called on MSPs to work together to improve the welfare of the 1.15m dogs currently living in Scotland.
Experts in the animal welfare sector across Scotland have long called for Greyhound racing to come to an end. It is inherently dangerous to the dogs involved, with them required to run at high speeds around oval tracks, leading to a high risk of serious injury. In many cases, injuries sustained are so severe that dogs are euthanised. Since 2017, more than 4,000 greyhounds have died or been put to sleep because of their involvement with racing across the UK.
Beyond injuries and deaths on the track, there are longstanding concerns about the welfare of greyhounds throughout their lives, including standards of kennelling, transportation, diet and enrichment.
In response to the announcement, Owen Sharp, Chief Executive of Dogs Trust, said:
“Today’s vote at Holyrood to move the Greyhound Racing (Offences) Scotland Bill to the next stage of Parliament is a crucial step forward for animal welfare.
“Each year, hundreds of dogs die or are seriously injured, all in the name of entertainment, and this is completely unacceptable. Off the track, many of the dogs involved are forced to live in poor conditions. We are therefore pleased the Scottish Parliament has shown it is ready and willing to take decisive action to prevent further deaths and injuries.
“With both Scotland and Wales moving closer to ending greyhound racing, it’s time for the rest of the UK to follow suit and put a stop to this cruel form of entertainment once and for all.
“Dogs Trust, along with other animal welfare charities working across Scotland, is committed to working together to take in greyhounds involved in the industry should a phased end be introduced.”
Scotland has just one remaining racetrack – Thornton, in Fife – which hasn’t opened since early in 2025. This track is unlicensed, so there is no requirement for a vet to be present during racing, despite the high risk of injury to the dogs involved, and no obligation to record or disclose injury or death details. Scotland’s only licensed track, Shawfield Stadium, closed during the pandemic and did not reopen, demonstrating the dwindling support for Greyhound racing in Scotland.
In March 2023, the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission, who advise the Scottish Government on animal welfare matters, determined that no new greyhound races should be permitted in Scotland, and that a dog bred for racing currently has poorer welfare than the average of other dogs in the population.
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