Moffat sheep race cancelled amid petition and licensing issues

Organisers said that it was with “deep regret” that they had decided to cancel the event.

Dumfries and Galloway Council required the animals to be licensed in keeping with the Performing Animals Act 1925, something the organisers were unwilling to do at short notice.

But the local authority said it had not stopped the event from taking place and that it was the organisers’ decision to cancel.

The cancellation came as more than 80,000 signatures were gathered in a petition opposing the races on grounds of animal cruelty.

The Moffat Promotions Group said: “The Moffat sheep races has become a firm fixture in the town’s calendar over the last five years and was a hugely successful fun day for all of the family.”

It added: “Furthermore, no objections and certainly no requests to apply this ancient act had been made until very recently.

“The council should have shown greater strength on this matter but instead created a situation where local organisers ended up backed into a corner which is hugely disappointing.”

John Robins, of charity Animal Concern, welcomed the decision.

“This is great news and I’m very glad the organisers have seen sense,” he said.

“It might not seem very cruel but chasing sheep along town streets with thousands of people noisily cheering them on causes the animals fear and stress.

“I’m sure the good people of Moffat can come up with other ways to encourage visitors without subjecting animals to unnecessary suffering.”