We can’t quite believe that it has been a year since we launched the Unbound the Greyhound campaign coalition.

From our launch outreach event on the streets of Glasgow last June, to the proposed Bill to ban greyhound racing in Scotland securing cross-party support this June, it’s been a year of significant progress. 

See the campaign’s 2023 highlights 

Where are we 1 year on? 

We are delighted to have achieved significant parliamentary action within a year of launching the campaign. Mark Ruskell MSP has brought the Proposed Bill to Ban Greyhound Racing (Scotland), which recently secured the necessary cross-party support from MSPs in just 24 hours.  

This means that Mark Ruskell MSP will soon have the right to introduce the Bill to the Scottish Parliament. The Scottish Government does have the power to stop the proposal, but only by promising that they will change in the law in much the same way.  

Public support for the Bill 

An incredible 86% of those that responded to the consultation for the Bill supported the proposed ban on greyhound racing. Further, an additional 9,505 people expressed their support of the proposed ban by participating in our Unbound the Greyhound public pledge. 

Read our summary of responses 

OneKind was also delighted to represent the Unbound the Greyhound coalition at the launch event for the Bill in February. Campaigner, Eve, and rescue greyhound, Bob, took to the Scottish Parliament to meet with MSPs and speak about the work of the Unbound the Greyhound coalition thus far. 

 

The current situation 

All this comes as the 2023 Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) figures reveal that 109 dogs died trackside last year at registered GBGB tracks and 55 were killed as they didn’t have a home or were designated unsuitable for homing. Horrifyingly, the number of these sensitive, gentle dogs who died trackside increased for the first time since GBGB began publishing its records six years ago.

The recent data also means that between 2018-2023, there were 2,751 dog deaths and 26,522 injuries. Of the 2,751 dogs that died, 736 of those were killed not for medical reasons, but because their treatment was deemed too expensive, they were homeless, designed 'unsuitable for homing', or effectively surplus to requirements.

Licensing is not fit for purpose and the only way to end the suffering of these dogs is to ban the cruel sport in Scotland. We will continue to support the Bill as it progresses through Parliament and will keep our supporters updated along the way.