Holyrood committee says dog control laws "not fit for purpose"

A Holyrood commitee is demanding the Scottish Government overhaul Scotland's dog control laws, branding it a "national crisis."

It follows a campaign by our sister station, Radio Clyde, which highlighted a worryingly high number of people ending up in hospital because of attacks every year.

The report published today by the Public Audit and Post-Legislative Review Committee recognises the failings of Scotland's current dog control laws.

MSPs are now urging the Scottish Government to take immediate action including introducing a centralised system to keep track of animals who have been handed dog control notices.

The recommendations are:

• The immediate establishment of a ‘Scottish Dog Control Database’ to improve the effectiveness of the Act.

• GPs, hospitals, local authorities and Police Scotland to be required to record and collect consistent data on reported incidences.

• Local authorities to use their by-law powers to create secure play areas for children within parks from which dogs are banned.

• An immediate and overdue awareness campaign of the 2010 Act to educate the wider population of how it can be used.

Committee Convener Jenny Marra said: "We've come to the conclusion that the dog laws in Scotland are not fit for purpose. We've seen a great campaign from Radio Clyde - the Lead the Way campaign - to say there's dog attacks happening all across Scotland. We're just into the summer holidays and we know there were 5,000 attacks last year and many of these happen during the holidays.

"The Lead the Way campaign has been excellent and you brought to our commitee people who've been deeply affected by dog attacks and it is one of the most powerful and emotional meetings we've ever had.

"The Scottish Government were supposed to bring in a dog database in 2010 and they never bothered, we're telling them now they need to do that immediately. We think the laws in Scotland are just not adequate at all and we're calling on the Scottish Government to have a wholesale review.

"I hope that publishing this report today that the Government will be looking at this over the summer and will do a lot of work on this so we can start getting this right for families as soon as possible."

It is an issue we've been talking about for nearly two years - campaigning for change along with families like Ryan Booth's.

He was mauled in Bishopton when he was just six years old - now 10, he is delighted at the news and said: "I am just really happy that this is happening. After my attack I had a big anxiety. I knew everything was ok but it just felt like I couldn't go outside again but if they change the law that will make things far better."

His mum, Claire, witnessed the attack and battled PTSD in the aftermath. She said: "I am very emotional, extremely happy and ecstatic that they've listened to us and are coming out and saying the laws are not fit for purpose. I didn't think they would be as extreme as that.

"I hope it makes a big change and no one has to go through what Ryan has went through and what we've went through. If it makes a difference we'll both be really happy and proud of that."

Radio Clyde Senior Reporter Natalie Crawford said: "I am absolutely delighted that MSPs have listened to the evidence we presented earlier this year and that they agree Scotland’s dog control laws are failing families across Glasgow and the West.

“We’ve been campaigning for change for nearly two years and this is a massive milestone for ‘Lead the Way’.

“We hope local authorities take on the committee’s interim recommendations and we will keep campaigning until there’s a permanent change to the law in Scotland.”

It could be 2021 before any changes in the law are passed.

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