A CLACKS MSP has joined the fight to end greyhound racing in Scotland.

Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, joined campaigners from the Unbound the Greyhound coalition outside the Scottish Parliament in protest of the ongoing races.

Mr Ruskell recently launched the consultation for his proposed bill to ban the sport, a topic he has showed considerable support towards over the years.

He said: “Greyhound racing is a cruel gambling-led sport.

“There is nothing safe about forcing dogs to run around an oval track at 40 miles per hour. It is wrong, and it must be stopped.

“The industry has shown that it cannot be trusted to regulate itself, with hundreds of greyhounds dying or being injured every year.

“Animal welfare organisations are clear – the inherent risks of greyhound racing mean that the welfare of these beautiful dogs can only be truly protected by banning racing for good.

“And that is exactly what my proposed bill intends to do. Thanks to the Unbound the Greyhound coalition, we know that the public also wants to see our four-legged friends protected too.

“An incredible 22,655 people have signed the coalition’s open letter calling for an end to greyhound racing in Scotland.

“Change is coming. So I hope that as many people as possible take part in my consultation and that we can use it to develop the most appropriate and robust legislation possible and deliver an end to this abusive and badly-dated service.”

Unbound the Greyhound also recently published an open letter, delivered to the Scottish Government, calling for an end to the practice.