Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Bill

Closed 11 Aug 2023

Opened 29 Jun 2023

Contact

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

0131 348 5000

rural.committee@parliament.scot

Overview

Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Bill

The Rural Affairs and Islands Committee is looking at the Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Bill and wants to hear your views.

What is the Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Bill?

The Bill would make changes to the law in a number of ways, including –

  • requiring the Scottish Ministers to publish a code of practice that should be followed by any person who is considering acquiring a dog to keep as a pet, and by any person who is considering selling or giving away a dog to someone else;
  • requiring the Scottish Ministers to take reasonable steps to ensure public awareness and understanding of the code of practice and its content;
  • providing the Scottish Ministers with the power to make regulations for a register of unlicensed litters of puppies; and
  • requiring the Scottish Ministers to take reasonable steps to ensure public awareness and understanding of the licensed breeding regime and, at such a time as it is in place, the register of unlicensed litters.

Share your views

We are seeking your views on the Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Bill

You can either:

  • complete a short survey on the Bill
  • share your detailed views on specific provisions of the Bill

Please note that we can only accept submissions via the online platform. If you require assistance to share your views via the platform for accessibility reasons, please contact the clerks. 

Short survey

If you wish to provide a short response with your views on the Bill overall, please complete the survey

1. Do you agree that there needs to be more regulation of the buying, selling and transfer of dogs??

2. The Bill would mean the Scottish Government would have to make a code of practice setting out best practice to consider for people who are getting a dog and people who are selling or giving away a dog. Do you agree with this proposal?

3. Do you agree with list the questions proposed to be included in the code of practice?

4. Do you agree with the information required in the code of practice relating to selling of giving away a dog which is less than 12 months old?

5. Do you agree with the propsal relating to a certificate that would need to be signed and kept upon receiving a dog?

6. The Bill states that, if someone doesn't follow the code, it does not mean they will face legal action. 

However, if they were prosecuted for a "relevant offence" related to animal welfare, not complying with the code could be used as evidence against them; whilst following the code could be used in their defence. The term "relevant offense" includes various animal welfare-related crimes listed in the 2006 Act, such as causing unnecessary suffering, mutilation, cruel operations, administering poisons, organising animal fights, and neglecting an animal's welfare. Do you agree with this proposal?

7. The Bill would give the Scottish Government the power to make rules that require people to register a litter of puppies.  Any puppies under 12 months that are not from a registered litter could not be sold or given away.  This would not apply to the first owner of a litter who has a relevant breeding licence and/or is not a resident of Scotland. Do you agree with this proposal?

8. The Bill would give the Scottish Government the power to make rules to set out what might happen to someone who did not register a litter of puppies.  This could mean imposing requirements on the first owner of a litter of puppies or stopping them from doing certain things. Do you agree with this proposal?

9. Please tell the Committee what you think about this Bill using the comment box provided.

If you are a stakeholder who would like to comment at length on the specific provisions in the Bill, please share your views in the detailed consultation

Detailed consultation

  1. Do you agree there is a need for additional regulation to support a responsible and informed approach to acquiring and owning a dog?

  2. Do you agree with the section 1 proposals to require Scottish Ministers to make a code of practice?
     
  3. How would the proposed code of practice work alongside the existing code of practice for the welfare of dogs, made under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 and which came into force in 2010?
     
  4. Do you agree with the section 2 proposals about the content of the code relating to the sale or transfer of a dog of any age?
     
  5. Do you agree with the section 3 proposals about the content of the code relating to the sale or transfer of a young dog by the first owner?  
     
  6. Do you agree with the section 4 proposals about the content of the code requiring a certificate?
     
  7.  Do you agree with the section 5 proposals relating to the revision of the code of practice? 
     
  8. Do you agree with the section 6 proposals relating to the effect of the code? 
     
  9. Do you agree with the section 7 proposal relating to a public awareness raising campaign for the code of practice and the projected costs for this set out in the financial memorandum? 
     
  10. Do you agree with the section 8 power for Scottish Ministers to make regulations to establish a register of litters?
     
  11. Do you agree with the proposal that local authorities enforce a register of litters and the projected costs for this set out in the financial memorandum?
     
  12. Do you agree with the section 10 power for Scottish Ministers to make regulations to secure compliance with a register of litters?
     
  13. Do you agree with the section 11 proposal relating to a public awareness raising campaign for a register of litters and the projected costs for this set out in the financial memorandum?

We welcome written views in English, Gaelic, Scots or any other language.

The call for views closes on 11 August 2023.

Interests

  • RAI