Campaigners slam Scottish Government 'inaction' over dog control laws
The Scottish Government’s asking us to have our say about Scotland's dog control laws and how the law deals with dangerous dogs.
Last updated 5th Feb 2021
The Scottish Government’s asking us to have our say about Scotland's dog control laws and how the law deals with dangerous dogs. It has published a discussion paper which will run for the next 12 weeks.
The review’s the result of our Lead the Way campaign which revealed a rise in attacks - despite the introduction of Control of Dogs Act 10 years ago.
However, a Holyrood committee has already carried out an extensive review of the laws and gathered evidence from the public, experts and victims of dog attacks.
The report published in July 2019 by the Public Audit and Post-Legislative Review Committee found the current legislation was not 'fit for purpose' and a 'national crisis' and made 31 recommendations for legislative change, including introducing a centralised system to keep track of animals who have been handed dog control notices.
It followed the 'Lead the Way' campaign by Clyde News, which highlighted the massive number of people being hospitalised because of attacks every year.
Campaigners feel this new review, which is open for 12 weeks, from 5 February 2021 to 30 April 2021, is a waste of time.
Claire Booth's son Ryan was mauled in Bishopton by two out of control dogs when he was just six years old.
He's now 11 and is still undergoing reconstructive surgery.
Claire said: "Victims gave evidence. Police Scotland gave evidence, surgeons, dog behavioral experts... and with all that it emerged that Scotland's dog laws were not fit for purpose. That was a very clear statement so why they feel they need to go through another consulation totally baffles me.
"They're just stalling and they haven't done any of the work they said they were going to do. They're making it look like they're doing something when in actual fact they are not so I'm extremely annoyed and frustrated by it all.
"It wasn't just me who gave evidence. One of the couples who were there, their daughter was sadly killed by two dogs in 1989. They've been doing this since then. What more evidence do they need? They know the laws are not fit and they have to change. They have no change now and not in another 12 weeks.
"They should have been changed years ago and this should never have happened to Ryan. It's clear to anyone who was in that room or read the report that the laws are not fit for purpose and need to change now."
Community Safety Minister Ash Denham said: “The vast majority of dog owners are responsible, take good care of their pets, experiencing the benefits of companionship and dog ownership. But there is a small minority who persistently fail to control their dogs properly. “We are determined to keep Scotland’s communities safe from these irresponsible owners and their dangerously out of control dogs. This new review is focused on steps that might be taken to improve how the criminal law deals with individuals whose dogs pose a danger to the public.
"The discussion paper primarily seeks views on the operation of the criminal offence of a dog being dangerously out of control, as currently contained in the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. It also seeks views, as part of any reform to certain aspects of legislation relating to the control of dogs, whether consideration could be given to consolidation of relevant legislation.
“The responses we get will help to shape decisions in the next Parliamentary session as to what legislative changes should be progressed. The decision to progress any legislative changes will of course be for the next Scottish administration to take.”