Mike Flynn

The Dangerous Dogs Act, which came into force in 1991, bans the ownership of certain dogs in the UK.

The ban covers three breed standards: Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro and one type, the American pit bull. The ban means that any of these animals who come into the care of the SSPCA must be put down, regardless of temperament or suitability for adoption.

The legislation was amended following several dog maulings and the death of John-Paul Massey, a four-year-old child who was killed by a pit bull at a house in Liverpool in 2009.

Scottish SPCA chief superintendent, Mike Flynn, said: “While we fully support legislation to protect the public, we believe any breed of dog can be potentially out of control and dangerous in the wrong hands.

“We’d like to see a bigger focus on legislation that ensures responsible dog ownership rather than punishing individual dogs for the way they look if they haven’t harmed anyone.”

He added that dogs should be judged on “deed not breed”.

“At the very least we’d like to see the law amended so banned breeds and types who come into our care can be rehomed. We would like to see courts take into account the agency that has cared for the dog, whether that’s ourselves or another reputable rescue organisation, so that these animals can be declared exempt.”