SCOTLAND GREYHOUND TRAINER CHRIS SILLARS BANNED OVER ANIMAL NEGLECT IN WEST OF SCOTLAND

Greyhound trainer Chris Sillars, operating in the West of Scotland, has been permanently prohibited from racing following allegations of severe neglect that led to the euthanasia of a greyhound dog. The Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) has imposed this ban, and a criminal prosecution may now be pursued.

A kennel inspector who discovered the neglected black greyhound, Dudleys Forever, described her condition as “the worst of a greyhound I have seen.” The dog, which originally competed in Ireland before being exported to Scotland, was found to weigh just over 16kg, with a body score of 1/5. She had to be euthanized by a veterinarian a few hours after the inspection.

An inquiry conducted by the GBGB’s disciplinary committee in December 2019 concluded that Sillars had violated animal welfare regulations. The report detailed that on September 2, 2019, steward Alex McTaggart from Glasgow’s Shawfield Stadium visited Sillars’ kennels and found alarming conditions. He reported that one kennel block housed nine greyhounds, while another contained four greyhounds housed in a non-registered and previously deemed unusable enclosure.

The GBGB report stated: “One of these dogs, Dudleys Forever, a black bitch last raced at Shawfield on November 24, 2018, was in such poor condition that Mr. McTaggart described it as ‘the worst condition of a greyhound I have seen’.” Video evidence was presented during the hearing, and Mr. McTaggart described the situation as a clear case of animal cruelty.

Later that day, Mr. McTaggart contacted Sillars by phone, during which Sillars claimed that Dudleys Forever was eating well and had been to the vet two months prior. However, Mr. McTaggart advised Sillars that the dog needed urgent veterinary attention. The report continued: “Mr. Sillars did take the greyhound to Abbey Vet Group later that day. The veterinary report indicated the dog weighed 16.3kg and had a body condition score of 1/5. No further tests were performed, and the greyhound was euthanized.”

The very next day, McTaggart met with Sillars again, who admitted it was false that Dudleys Forever had been recently examined by a vet. In fact, the dog’s last veterinary check had occurred on December 2, 2018—more than 10 months earlier.

The GBGB disciplinary panel deemed this case as “a clear instance of animal abuse,” leading to the withdrawal of Sillars’ racing license. The report concluded with a statement that the video evidence and the expert steward’s testimony confirmed it was “the worst condition of a greyhound he had ever seen,” and expressed strong disapproval of the neglect. The committee found Sillars had cruelly treated the dog, causing unnecessary suffering, and that his deliberate failure to seek veterinary care was unacceptable.

The report further stated: “This constituted a breach of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.” The GBGB urged that the case be referred to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in Edinburgh for potential prosecution.

Campaign group Say No To Greyhound Racing In Scotland condemned the treatment, stating: “The treatment of racing greyhounds in Scotland is absolutely appalling, and this trainer must be prosecuted and face the full weight of the law. We also call for criminal charges against those doping greyhounds with Class A drugs and human prescription medication.” They highlighted that no prosecutions had yet occurred in Scotland despite 14 confirmed doping cases at Shawfield in the past two years, including five involving cocaine, which can be lethal to dogs.

In addition, a trainer based in Edinburgh who races in England was found to have three dogs with positive tests for banned substances. The Ferret, an investigative news outlet, attempted to obtain the video evidence presented to the GBGB but was declined access.

The Ferret also reported in October 2019 that numerous greyhounds at Shawfield had been doped with steroids, beta-blockers, and prohormones—substances also used by bodybuilders—since 2009. Five of the 28 positive tests involved cocaine, which can cause seizures, strokes, and heart attacks.

Furthermore, a separate case involved an Edinburgh-based trainer who races in England, with three dogs testing positive for banned substances.

In November 2020, The Ferret reported that Chris Sillars would not face prosecution for animal cruelty. The Scottish SPCA explained that it was notified of the case in February 2020, but due to the six-month legal reporting deadline, they only had three weeks to gather evidence, which was insufficient for prosecution.

Say No To Greyhound Racing in Scotland, which reported the case to Police Scotland in February 2019, criticized the delay, stating: “This is a shocking case, and Dudleys Forever has received no justice. We informed authorities in mid-January, yet the GBGB only officially notified the SSPCA five months later. This delay is commonplace and seems designed to protect the industry.” They emphasized that greyhounds are often overlooked and that the industry’s treatment of them remains a serious concern.