Greyhound owners have rushed to the defence of the breed after a cat was killed by a rescue dog in Tayport.
The Courier has been inundated with emails from owners who are concerned the incident could deter others from giving retired racing greyhounds a home.
Glenrothes greyhound lover Jennifer Bruce spoke out after reading the article.
However, she said the dogs needed vigilant owners.
“You get utter affection and love from them,” said Jennifer, who owns retired racers Eddie and Wisp, and also a lurcher called Vince.
“They’re great to have around and are a good source of exercise in terms of getting you out and motivated, and they also like a cuddle on the sofa.
“Eddie was a champion racer. He was harder to train and I had to keep him muzzled for a period of time. I took him to socialisation classes to get him used to smaller dogs..embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; padding-top: 30px; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }
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“I think if people are going to get a greyhound, they need to be aware that if it gets out of the garden they are not going to be able to catch it.
“It’s about being really vigilant that the dog is always on the lead and the gates are closed.”
Approximately 8,000 greyhounds retire from racing each year, but the Greyhound Retirement Trust only manages to rehome about half of those.
The trust said despite 4,000 greyhounds being rehomed each year, incidents like the one in Tayport were rare.
In Tayport, a recently adopted greyhound escaped from a house and mauled a pet cat. As a result, the dog was taken back by the rescue centre which had rehomed it.
It is understood the dog is available to be rehomed again.
Police Scotland confirmed the person responsible for the dog at the time had not been charged but the matter was being investigated.
The Scottish SPCA said the responsibility for the incident lay with the owner and the Retired Greyhound Trust described the incident as an “unfortunate accident”.
According to the trust, dogs with a desire to chase can be “de-schooled relatively quickly with firm, constant discouragement”.
Isobel Taggart, of Dunfermline, said: “I have two greyhounds three until I recently lost one to old age. She was the kindest, gentlest creature I have ever known. Yes, they are ‘taught’ to chase, to earn their right even to exist, and cast aside like some old piece of rubbish when they can no longer earn their keep. If they’re lucky they will end up in a rescue centre. The alternatives do not bear thinking about.
“I am worried that if the general public perceive greys as ‘dangerous dogs’ even more thousands will be doomed to a life behind bars, or worse.”
George Petrie from Clydebank added: “Yet again greyhounds are getting negative publicity in the media which they do not deserve. They need the media to actually do something positive for them to help change the public’s perception of them being vicious and dangerous.
“I have been involved with greyhound rescue work for nearly six years and I know the struggle it is to rehome these dogs.
“I never owned a dog before I rescued our first greyhound nearly six years ago and he was abused, terrified and scared of everything. He is the gentlest dog you could ask for. He now has his confidence back and he enjoys his life fully, but it took a long time. If it was not for these rescue centres he would not be here now.”