Holyrood Dog of the Year winner announced at Scottish Parliament
MSPs have been competing to see whose companion is the top dog
The Holyrood Dog of the Year winner has been announced after MSPs entered their pets in a competition to crown the best political pooch.
The event was organised by The Kennel Club and Dogs Trust, who also hold the popular Westminster Dog of the Year competition.
And now the Scottish Parliament has declared its favourite canine with the SNP’S David Torrance’s companion Buster declared the top dog.
Torrance, who got the Golden Retriever after an illness in 2016, said: “What a difference he has made to my life.
“He Just breaks up my work routine, breaks up the stress levels that I have.
“Even when we were sitting late at ten o’clock in Parliament on Wednesday, I got home at 11 o’clock and he was sitting there waiting on me and we just walked through the woods.
“The reason I’ve been so keen to take part is to highlight the welfare of dogs.
“Not only that but what government can do to make legislation better to improve the lives of dogs."
The public's winner
Joy, the three-legged greyhound of Green MSP Mark Ruskell, won the public vote.
The representative for Mid Scotland and Fife says he took part in the competition to highlight the dangers of Greyhound racing.
He said: “We’re looking at options to phase out Greyhound racing because there are too many inherent risks unfortunately with the sport
“There were statistics out quite recently showing that unfortunately the level of injuries and deaths are not going down.
“But it is also an opportunity to show what great pets Greyhounds can make.
“They make great family animals. They’re actually quite lazy. A lot of people think they need to walk for about ten miles a day, they really don’t.”
Pawlitical
A total of 13 MSPs entered the Dog of the Year competition.
It was the fifth time it has been held.
One of the judges Mark Beasley, chief executive of The Kennel Club, added: “The Holyrood Dog of the Year is a fantastic annual event and something we look forward to every year.
“It also gives us an opportunity to speak to legislators in Scotland and ask them what they’re doing to improve the health and welfare of dogs.”