Scottish SPCA sound note of caution over Bully XL ban plans
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A SCOTTISH animal welfare charity has sounded a note of caution after the Scottish Government announced it was considering the Bully XL dog breed
Thursday, January 11 saw Forst Minister Humza Yousaf confirm that the breed would be subject to the same stringent regulations under the Dangerous Dogs Act in force in England.
The rules south of the border, which have proved controversial, have seen owners required to keep their dogs on a lead and muzzled when out in public. An exemption certificate is required to own a Bully XL, which must be neutered, microchipped and insured. Selling, breeding, abandoning or giving them away is also illegal in England.
However, the Scottish PCA, while supporting moves to keep the public safe, have re-iterated their misgivings about the strategy of imposing a whole breed brand
In a statement, the charity said: "As a responsible charity, we will comply with the Scottish Government’s decision.
"We fully support legislation to protect the public.
"We are concerned about the rise in dog control related incidents, and agree that steps need to be taken to protect the public.
"However, we are disappointed that the Scottish Government has decided to take the same route as the UK government.
"We remain opposed to a ban of this type on a specific dog type, which we believe is not the most effective way to protect the public. Instead, we believe any breed of dog can be potentially out of control and dangerous in the wrong hands.
"We believe that anyone found guilty of owning a dangerous dog that has been involved in an attack should be automatically banned for life from owning another dog. We will continue to call on the police and Scottish courts to enforce this under existing legislation.
"The Scottish SPCA has not seen an increase in the number of XL bully dogs coming into our centres since the restrictions came into force in England and Wales.
"We urge the Scottish Government to ensure that any legislation is introduced with a sufficient transition period, to ensure that owners have the time and support needed to be able to exempt their dogs.
"We also call on the Scottish Government to ensure that the teams responsible for enforcing this law have the resources and training they need before the ban begins, to ensure that no more dogs than absolutely necessary become caught up in this.
"We will update our website further when Scottish Government issues further information."
Speaking during First Minister's Questions on January 11, Mr Yousaf pinned the change on "a flow of XL Bully dogs coming to Scotland".
He denied that the new rules were "a ban on XL Bully dogs", and blamed the Scottish Government's delayed decision on a lack of consultation from Westminster.
More information about the introduction of the stringent regulations, set out in the Dangerous Dogs Act, should be provided in a Holyrood statement next week, the First Minister confirmed.
“What has become clear, I'm afraid, in the last few weeks is that we have seen a flow of XL Bully dogs coming to Scotland," he said.
"A number of people coming to Scotland to bring XL Bully dogs here to the country.
“As such, and we'll give further details to members of the Scottish Parliament through a ministerial statement if the Parliamentary Bureau agrees next week, we will, in essence, replicate the legislation that is in England and Wales here in Scotland.
“Because, ultimately, although we do have a very good system of Dog Control Notice Schemes – and we do take the approach of deed, not breed – we have to respond to the situation as it currently stands.
"And therefore we will do what we need to do to ensure public safety.
"Of course, owners can still keep an XL Bully dog.
"They have to make sure it's registered on the exemption index.
"They have to fulfil the other criteria of the legislation."
