SNP MSP David Torrance’s “best friend” has been crowned Holyrood’s Dog of the Year in the annual competition at the Scottish Parliament.
Golden retriever Buster placed first in the contest, with Tory MSP Tess White’s flat-coated retriever Kura coming second and a rescue dog called Oakley - which was paired with Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone - finishing third.
A greyhound called Joy, which was brought by Mark Ruskell, won the public vote.
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A total of 13 MSPs entered the fifth annual Dog of the Year competition, with some bringing their own pets and others being given a rescue dog.
The MSPs and dogs gathered outside Holyrood on Monday morning, where a panel made up of the Dogs Trust’s Owen Sharp and Mark Beazley of the Kennel Club and last year’s winner Christine Grahame quizzed the owners on dog welfare issues.
The MSPs also attempted to navigate a “paw-sault” course set up in the Holyrood gardens with their dogs.
Torrance, a constituency MSP for Kirkcaldy, said: “Buster’s an absolutely fantastic dog - Buster’s the first dog I ever had.
“When I come home, he’s loving, we go for a walk, we de-stress.
“He’s absolutely fantastic for my mental health.”
The SNP MSP added: “He’s definitely a man’s best friend.”
He said the UK Government should consider taking VAT off dog food to help pet owners struggling with the cost of living.
Speaking to The National, Torrance explained:“As an MSP a number of my constituents want to keep their pets but they are struggling because of the cost of living, either to pay for the monthly fees for vets or for dog food.
“It is really important because in many cases that’s the only companionship that they have.
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“It helps their mental health because they’re in isolation as it is anyway and the pet really helps them.”
Torrance added that previously a large bag of dog biscuits costs around £18, but now can cost almost £32 or more.
“If that’s the only companion you’ve got, that’s a lot of money to spend,” he added.
He is also supporting SNP colleague Christine Grahame’s bill to stamp out puppy farms.
Ruskell (pictured above with Joy) is campaigning for greyhound racing to be brought to an end in Scotland.
He was accompanied by Joy, one of his constituent’s greyhounds, which lost a leg after being used for racing.
The Green MSP said: “There’s a lot of inherent risk in racing dogs at 40mph around curved tracks.
“That’s where a lot of injuries can take place, that’s how Joy’s injury took place a number of years ago.
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“I think it’s time for a phase-out really. I think greyhound racing has had its day in Scotland.”
Katie Sibbald, Joy’s owner, added: “I’ve been involved in rehoming greyhounds for 15 years, and I’ve seen so many sad cases, it’s no life for a dog. It’s time that greyhound racing was sent to the history books.”
The contest is organised by the Dogs Trust and the Kennel Club to raise awareness of the issues affecting dogs today.
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