Lead the Way: MSPs agree to open a review following Clyde News campaign
Clyde News has secured a review of Scotland's dog control laws, six months after we launched our Lead the Way campaign.
Clyde News has secured a review of Scotland's dog control laws, six months after we launched our Lead the Way campaign.
MSPs will investigate whether the 2010 legislation is working after we revealed thousands of children in Glasgow and the West have been viciously attacked by animals over the last three years.
Kristina Stirton’s daughter Zara was attacked by a dog in a shop in Paisley when she was just three years-old.
She said: “To think we might have made a difference and this might not happy to another family ever again is an amazing feeling. No family deserves to have this happen to them.
"It has happened to loads of other people and even MSPs came forward with their experiences. It has restored my faith in politics massively.
"This is something that's needed to be looked at for a long, long time now and I'm really excited to see what happens next."
Our campaign is backed by the Scottish SPCA. Their chief superintendent Mike Flynn said: “I am delighted they are actually going to look into this issue. The Act itself is actually very good but most local authorities don't have either the money or the man power to actually enforce in properly.
"What we have found over the years is when someone is attacked in a public place is neighbours always come forward saying I've had concerns about that dog for a number of years.
"If they were able to report those concerns to local authorities and they were actually dealt with and Dog Control Notices issued then maybe we could actually cut down on the number of attacks that actually happen."
Holyrood's Public Audit and Post-legislative Scrutiny Committee will now issue a call for evidence on why the 2010 Control of Dogs Act is not working.