Scots-based trainers racing greyhounds in England are transporting dogs "illegally" and councils are failing to ensure they comply with animal welfare regulations, it has been claimed.

An investigation by animal welfare activists has found trainers are driving caged greyhounds, without the correct licences, on round trips of up to ten hours to places as far afield as Wolverhampton, in the West Midlands.

Critics argue that dogs are often seen as disposable commodities, moved around the country in cages for racing, and then "dumped on re-homing charities" when they are no longer able to race anymore.

Licenses for transporting animals are issued by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), a UK Government body. Local authorities are tasked with ensuring animal transport complies with the regulations.

There are 27 breeders and trainers in Scotland registered with the Greyhound Board of Great Britain. They keep their greyhounds in kennels in Scotland and race them at tracks elsewhere in the UK.

APHA says a "type 2" licence is required when a journey for a greyhound exceeds eight hours, and there should be a 48-hour break until the next journey. Most Scots trainers have a "type 1" which is required for shorter journeys of up to eight hours.

But activists said most round trips to England for racing take longer than eight hours, and trainers must take into account the time greyhounds spend at a track, to comply with the law.

More than 300 racing greyhounds died last year

They also accused local authorities of being "completely clueless about the rules" and claimed this "lack of knowledge" is "deeply concerning", pointing out councils are tasked with ensuring compliance for all animal transports in Scotland.

The Scottish Greens MSP Mark Ruskell - whose bill to ban greyhound racing in Scotland will be voted on next month by MSPs in the Scottish Parliament - said welfare regulations should be able to protect greyhounds from harm if they are properly enforced, adding that "in the case of transportation they are clearly not."

The Greyhound Board of Great Britain - which says it has invested over £13.5m since 2015 to improve the safety and welfare of racing greyhounds - was asked to comment but did not respond.

Local authorities told The Ferret they were investigating complaints. One council said resource issues means it can only investigate cases when "we become aware of potential issues".

The activists' investigation follows a decision last month by the Welsh Government to prohibit greyhound racing.

The activists - who requested anonymity - conducted a four-month investigation, focusing on trainers who travel to places such as Newcastle Greyhound Stadium, and Monmore Green Stadium, Wolverhampton.

A round trip from Edinburgh to Wolverhampton would involve at least 10 hours travelling for greyhounds, as well as the time involved at the race track. The correct APHA licence would be type 2 which covers journeys over eight hours, the activists said.

But nearly all Scots trainers have a type 1 licence so unless a trainer stayed in Wolverhampton for 48 hours before returning to Scotland with their greyhound/s, they would be breaking the law, said the activists.

One Scots trainer recently posted on social media to reveal he had travelled to Monmore Green Stadium "on a 10-hour round trip" with three dogs.

The activists raised the licence issue with 11 local authorities and said they "discovered a staggering lack of knowledge" regarding animal transport law. "Despite local authorities also having the power to advise against travel, they have allowed Scottish greyhound trainers to remain on the roads illegally over a number of months since we brought it to their attention," one activist told The Ferret.

They added: "After much protracted discussion with APHA and the relevant local authorities, only one has now taken out a type 2 license. I appreciate that it's not a subject which any of them seem to have come across before, however the informati...