Future of Lanarkshire dog track debated by Scottish Parliament committee

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The future of a Lanarkshire dog racing track remains murky as campaigners against the sport spoke at the Scottish Parliament last week.The Scottish Parliament's Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee has been asked by campaigners from Scotland Against Greyhound Exploitation (Sage) to call for a complete ban on the sport.That would see a closure of Shawfield Stadium in Rutherglen, which is the only remaining licenced track in Scotland.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android Earlier this year we told how 15 dogs had died at the track in just a three year span, from 2017 to 2020, while 197 injuries occurred in the same period.

Stats also revealed a number of dogs had been found with drugs in their system during 2018 and 2019 - including five animals with cocaine.Speaking at the committee to MSPs, Gill Docherty of SAGE said: "Fundamentally, we cannot ignore the inherent risks of greyhound racing itself.

These risks are present whether the track is regulated or unregulated."They cannot be mitigated against with welfare measures or cleverly named initiatives."It is a fact that making six dogs race at speed in excess of 40mph counter clockwise round an oval track results in a high rate of collisions and injuries, with the first end being notorious for causing the most injuries."The campaign