Responsible Dog Ownership Expert Advisory Group: terms of reference

Purpose

An Expert Advisory Group has been established by the Scottish Government to explore the various issues raised at the Scottish Government Responsible Dog Ownership Summit held in Edinburgh on 20 September 2024.

Responsibility for the Group within the Scottish Government sits in Criminal Justice Division (for dog control issues) and Animal Health and Welfare (for dog welfare issues).

Scottish Government Responsible Dog Ownership Summit

The Scottish Government is grateful to everyone who attended and contributed to the Responsible Dog Ownership Summit.

The Summit was jointly chaired by the Minister for Victims and Community Safety, Siobhian Brown MSP, and the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, Jim Fairlie MSP.

The Summit brought together attendees from a wide range of organisations, including Police Scotland, local authorities, veterinary bodies, public health and third sector organisations to consider how dog control and public safety can be improved upon.

The Summit Report is available on the Scottish Government website. The Summit Report contains key outputs and recommendations from the Summit.

As a key outcome of the summit, Ministers asked Scottish Government officials to progress plans to establish an Expert Advisory Group to look at the various issues raised at the summit to help determine what steps can be progressed in the short, medium, and long term.

For example, in the short term what positive action can be taken that does not require legislation (given legislation is not an area that can be progressed in the short term).

Secretariat

The Scottish Government Criminal Law, Practice and Licensing Unit will chair and provide secretariat to the group. Animal Welfare and Health Division will provide support for this role as needed.

Membership of group

Meetings of the group will be held online via MS Teams.

A full membership list is available. 

Work plan

The group will collectively focus on aspects of how dog control, dog welfare and public safety can be improved upon. From prevention through education to robust, consistent enforcement, focusing on educating owners. 

To assist with consideration of what may be looked at by the core group, and any associated sub-groups, extracts from the Summit Report are available:

• mini round-table - question for group one
• mini round-table - question for group two
• mini round-table - question for group three
• other issues and key points raised at the summit

To undertake this review, if deemed necessary, sub-groups may require to be established to take forward specific pieces of work.

Those invited to attend sub-group meetings will be invited to set out their views on what they think is or is not working in relation to each specific subject area. They will also be invited to make any recommendations they believe appropriate to amend or change that specific subject area.

Timescale

There is no set timescale for the conclusion of the work of the group. The first meeting of the main group is due to took place on 26 June 2025.

Meetings of sub-groups are ongoing. Key outputs from the sub-group meetings will be reported back to the group for consideration and decision where appropriate.

Reporting arrangements and publication of the revised guidance

The group will be supported by Scottish Government officials (Criminal Justice Division and Animal Health and Welfare Division).

An evaluation will be presented at a future Responsible Dog Ownership summit, to take place during this session of the Scottish Parliament (exact date to be determined). This evaluation will include:

• progress made
• outputs achieved
• any legislative recommendations for changes/modifications to existing law