Responsible dog ownership summit: report

Annex B

Opening Statement from Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, Jim Fairlie MSP

Good afternoon everyone and just to echo my colleague’s sincere thanks to you all for attending this summit. It is a pleasure to be here with you.

I think you all know that dogs play a big part in my life, both as beloved members of my family and of course as valued work companions from my time as a shepherd and sheep farmer. As Minister with responsibility for animal welfare, dog welfare is clearly dear to my heart, and how we care for dogs, and indeed animals generally, speaks volumes about our society's values and our commitment to compassion and responsibility.

By coming together today, we reaffirm our collective commitment to work together to ensure that every dog is bred, raised, and cared for in a manner that upholds their well-being and dignity. While the joy and comfort that dogs bring to our lives is undeniable, the increasing number of dogs in our communities, the public’s demand for them and, in some cases, the public’s desire to purchase dogs with particular attributes and appearance, has created challenges that require our attention and necessitate action.

One pressing issue, for example, driven by the demand for specific dogs that we must confront, is the rise of unregulated canine fertility businesses. While there can be genuine reasons for fertility procedures, there are significant and legitimate concerns about this sector’s activities, including the improper use of regulated veterinary medicinal products, unethical breeding practices, laypersons undertaking acts of veterinary surgery and, in some cases, links to criminality including the unlicensed puppy trade.

These concerns are of course exacerbated by the lack of regulatory oversight, which led to calls from the public and indeed many of you present today, for government to take action. The Scottish Government agrees that action is necessary. On 16 August we announced that we intend to bring forward — at the earliest opportunity — stringent new licensing controls to restrict the services that these businesses can provide and ensure that they are subject to regular inspection.

The new controls will seek to ensure that these businesses operate to high animal welfare standards and do so transparently and ethically. The new licensing controls will ensure that only qualified persons are permitted to operate such businesses, and that practices compromising animal welfare, such as facilitating the breeding of brachycephalic breeds, are prohibited.

Another welfare area on which I would like to briefly touch, and which is germane to this summit’s focus on dog control, is the issue of dogs under the temporary care of commercial dog walkers. I’m sure that most, if not all of you here today, will know that last year the Scottish Government consulted on proposals to licence commercial dog walkers. This was in response to concerns raised about the number of dog walking businesses now operating in Scotland and the lack of a targeted, regulatory framework to safeguard animal welfare and ensure that those offering this service do so considerately and professionally.

Our consultation demonstrated that there is strong support for controls on commercial dog walking businesses. It also highlighted, however, that there are genuine concerns about the proportionality of statutory licensing and the capacity of local authorities to meaningfully enforce new licensing controls.

Having considered these concerns, we are now exploring with the local authorities whether the introduction of a registration scheme, underpinned by a code of conduct, would be a more proportionate means of regulating this sector. We will be guided by local authorities and stakeholders on whether any such scheme, if introduced, should be on a voluntary or compulsory basis.

Just to be clear, the Scottish Government remains committed to the introduction of measures to address the concerns associated with the growth of this sector, and we are all too aware of the consequences when dogs are not kept under control, leading to distress, injury, or even tragic outcomes for livestock, other animals and people. But we are mindful that any new controls need to be proportionate and cognisant of the significant pressures facing local government.

No doubt many attendees here today will have a view on how best to regulate this sector and, perhaps, on how we could best roll-out a registration scheme, assuming of course that local authorities support such an approach, and I look forward to hearing and discussing those views today.

I’m conscious of time and we have much to discuss today. Before I close however, I would like to reaffirm the Scottish Government’s commitment to working in partnership with the veterinary profession, animal welfare organisations, local authorities and other partners to ensure that Scotland attains the highest animal welfare standards and to tackling the abhorrent illegal puppy trade.

For many years now we have worked together with the shared goal of driving up animal welfare standards and to ensuring that those compromising animal welfare are held accountable. On behalf of the Scottish Government, I express my sincere thanks to you all and I look forward to working with you all as we develop and progress new initiatives.

Finally, in our discussions today, let us be guided by a shared vision: a society where every dog is treated with the care, respect, and love they deserve, and where every dog owner understands and fulfils their responsibilities. I hope we can work together to make this vision a reality.

I look forward to some insightful discussion.