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Under a new law passed by MSPs, Scotland is to draw up a code of practice for getting a dog. The Welfare of Dogs Bill is designed to promote responsible ownership of dogs and to ensure that individuals understand the commitment required before becoming a pet owner. Within a year, the Scottish government has to prepare a code, with a checklist of questions to determine whether an individual can handle the time, space and financial commitments of owning a dog. This would then inform a certificate, signed by the new owner and the person from whom they purchased the dog, confirming that both parties understand the implications of owning a dog.
The bill is a member’s proposal from SNP MSP Christine Graham, who has been championing changes for over seven years. Graham, who is from Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, introduced a Welfare of Dogs bill in 2018 which fell at the end of a term of parliament shortened by the Covid pandemic.
At the Edinburgh Dog and Cat home, Lindsay Fyffe-Jardine, the CEO, stated that the home was at capacity as there had been a worrying increase in strays being brought in. Fyffe-Jardine said that while good owners do bring their dogs due to changes in circumstances, such as moving house or the loss of a job, there were also issues related to impulse buys, which are not properly thought through.
The code of practice is designed to address these issues. Within 12 months, the Scottish government has to produce the code of practice. This code will have a checklist of questions, including asking if the breed is appropriate for a potential owner, whether the environment is suitable for the dog and whether the individual has time to exercise it regularly. Exploring the costs of pet ownership and whether the individual can commit to the dog’s care for its entire life are also important. The certificate that confirms an individual’s consideration of these questions is not a legally binding document, but rather a way to encourage critical thought on the matter of dog ownership.
Although there is already a 28-page code of practice for dog owners, introduced in 2010 under previous animal welfare reforms, the new code of practice has been promoted as a more practical mechanism that the parties to a dog sale can review at the point of purchase. Initially, the bill included proposals for the formation of a Scotland-wide database for registering dogs born through unlicensed litters. However, the government dropped those proposals after considering whether the idea was effective or proportional in addressing the issue of irresponsible breeding. The final debate on the Welfare of Dogs bill also discussed the use of shock collars, after MSP Ross Greer introduced a motion to prohibit their use. Nevertheless, the motion failed, with the government undertaking to revisit the issue following the completion of some independent reports on shock collar usage later this year
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