Dogs

Dog thefts have risen, new figures from Police Scotland show. In 2020/21 there were 88 crimes in which dogs were stolen or there was an attempt to steal them, up from 62 in the preceding financial year.

A law requiring dogs of banned breeds to be put down is “unfit for purpose”, according to the Scottish SPCA. The Dangerous Dogs Act, which came into force in 1991, bans the ownership of certain dogs in the UK.

A new offence of "pet abduction" is to be created to address the escalating problem of dognapping. Justice Secretary Robert Buckland QC MP's legislation will reflect the fact that stealing a pet can be cruel to the animal and traumatic to its owner.

Friday 26 February 12 - 4pm

A new member's bill introduced at Holyrood proposes to improve the welfare of puppies and dogs.

The Scottish government should consider legislating to require dog owners to hold insurance so that victims of dog attacks can be fairly compensated, a lawyer has said. Heather Tierney, a senior solicitor at Watermans, said victims are often left with "little option" in terms of compensation because

Dog control laws have been made the subject of a public consultation amid worries over careless owners. Community safety minister Ash Denham MSP has pledged to "keep communities safe from irresponsible owners" and their out-of-control dogs.