Scottish Government backs Bill to ban greyhound racing in Scotland (07-09-25)

We are thrilled that the Scottish Government has confirmed it will be backing the Greyhound Racing (Offences) (Scotland) Bill, which would ban greyhound racing in Scotland.

Last week, in a letter to the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee, the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, Jim Fairlie, confirmed the Scottish Government supported the general principles of the Bill.

Greyhound at a rally outside the Scottish Parliament wearing unbound the greyhound jackets.

As the Unbound the Greyhound coalition, we have spent the past two years shining a light on the inherent welfare issues of greyhound racing and mobilising the public to demonstrate their support for a ban. We are so grateful that almost 11,000 individuals wrote to their MSPs and the Minister, urging them to support this Bill.

Eve Massie Bishop, OneKind’s Head of Campaigns and Media, speaking on behalf of the coalition says: 

“We are thrilled that the Scottish Government has listened to the strong demonstrations of support for a ban from the Scottish public, animal welfare organisations and celebrities.

“A nation that considers itself a leader in animal welfare must do better than permit an industry that has cost the lives of 3,957 dogs since 2017. This isn’t ‘entertainment’, it’s cruelty. And Scots have spoken: cruelty has no place in our national identity.

“The public's appetite for greyhound racing has dramatically dwindled, as awareness of the inherent suffering faced by dogs trapped in this dire industry has continued to grow. It's time to bring this outdated industry to a humane end and we’re grateful to the Scottish Government for publicly announcing their support. 

The Bill has our full backing as it progresses through Parliament.” 

Unbound the Greyhound coalition members outside Scottish Parliament.

The Unbound the Greyhound coalition members

The Unbound the Greyhound coalition consists of nine animal protection organisations including campaigning charities, rehoming centres, grassroots groups, and an all-party parliamentary group: OneKind, All-Party Parliamentary Dog Advisory Welfare Group (APDAWG), Animal Concern, Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, GREY2K USA Worldwide, Hope Rescue, League Against Cruel Sports Scotland, Say No to Greyhound Racing in Scotland, and Scotland Against Greyhound Exploitation (SAGE). 

Manage Cookie Preferences