David Torrance’s Buster wins Holyrood’s top dog award

Golder Retriever Buster, the dog of SNP MSP David Torrance, has won the Holyrood Dog of the Year competition.

The contest is run annually by the Dogs Trust and Kennel Club to raise awareness of animal welfare issues.

Now in its fifth year, 13 MSPs entered the competition (including three who took part with Dogs Trust dogs).

Buster has entered the contest every year but this is the first time he has won. Torrance said he was “an absolutely fantastic dog”.

“When I come home, he's loving, we go for a walk, we de-stress. He's absolutely fantastic for my mental health,” the MSP added.

The winner of the public vote was a three-legged greyhound named Joy, entered by Green MSP Mark Ruskell.

Tess White’s Kura placed second and presiding officer Alison Johnstone’s adopted-dog-for-the-day Oakley was third.