Unlicensed XL bully dogs will be banned in Scotland, Humza Yousaf has said, as the Scottish government moves to replicate the new restrictions in England and Wales that have resulted in an apparent influx to the country of the breed.
Speaking at first minister’s questions on Thursday, the SNP leader told MSPs: “What has become clear, I’m afraid, in the last few weeks is we have seen a flow of XL bully dogs coming to Scotland.”
Further details would be provided to MSPs through a parliamentary statement next week, Yousaf said. “We will, in essence, replicate the legislation that is in England and Wales here in Scotland because ultimately, although we do have a very good system of dog control notice schemes, and we do take the approach indeed not to breed, we have to respond to the situation as it currently stands and therefore we will do what we need to do to ensure public safety.”
Speaking to journalists after FMQs, he accused UK counterparts of failing to consult the Scottish government before bringing in the measures that will prohibit the animals in England and Wales from the start of February unless their owners have applied for an exemption certificate.
Owners who do apply for an exemption certificate must have their dog neutered, microchipped and insured as well as keeping it on the lead and muzzled when out in public.
This follows a ban on breeding, selling or abandonment of the dogs in England and Wales from the end of December.
Yousaf told reporters: “We can’t ignore the fact that over the last few weeks we have seen evidence of that flow of XL bully dogs [to Scotland]. We will therefore look to replicate some of those safeguards.”
There have been a number of reports of individuals helping XL bully owners in England to rehome their dogs in Scotland since the English ban was first announced.
One campaigner, Kerryanne Shaw, who runs the All Bullie Rescue Charity, told local media she was in discussions with the council licensing officers to open a rescue centre in Dundee.
The Scottish SPCA, however, said it has not seen an increase in the number of XL bully dogs coming into its rescue centres since the restrictions came into force in England and Wales and remains opposed to bans on specific breeds. It says it wants to see an end to irresponsible ownership and low-welfare breeding practices.
Mike Flynn, chief superintendent of the Scottish SPCA, told BBC Scotland his organisation was “shocked [at] the sudden nature of the change of direction”.
“My understanding is that [the Scottish government] is having to act because of all the media reports of dogs being brought up to Scotland and us being a kind of dumping ground.
“If it is going to go ahead, we would hope to work with the Scottish government to make sure there is a better system in place for people registering their dogs than there has been down in England and Wales, which has been a total farce to be honest with you.”
The Scottish Conservative MSP Jamie Greene accused the Scottish government of “a humiliating U-turn”.
He said: “The first minister and his colleagues have wasted months playing political games and causing worry, only to now announce they will, rightly, replicate the UK government’s ban anyway.
“Having picked a needless fight with the UK government, the SNP appeared blind-sided by these dogs being rehomed in Scotland – when everyone else knew it would be the inevitable consequence of their actions.”
