Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee

Meeting date: Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Official Report 389KB pdf

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Petition

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Staffordshire Bull Terriers (PE1396)

Item 3 is consideration of PE1396, which calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to investigate and prevent the overbreeding of Staffordshire bull terrier dogs. The petition was brought by Ian Robb on behalf of Help for Abandoned Animals (Arbroath). I refer members to paper RACCE/S4/12/22/3.

I declare an interest. I had a degree of involvement in the petition when it was presented to the Parliament. Subject to the committee’s agreement, I will not leave the room while the petition is discussed, but I will not participate in the discussion.

Thank you. I invite comments from other members.

The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said that 75 per cent of people who seek to take a dog into their home would not consider a Staffordshire bull terrier. There is evidence that Staffordshire bull terriers are bred and then abandoned, but people are not keen to take them into their homes. We should perhaps close the petition, but it would be useful to write to local authorities and encourage them to use the legislation that is available to them.

I agree. The petition has had a good airing and should be closed. Legislation is in place. I take Margaret McDougall’s point about writing to councils. I am a dog owner and I am sure that there is an issue for other breeds. We should close the petition and move on.

It is widely known that it is illegal to abandon a dog. I am quite happy to close the petition. It might be appropriate to write to Kenny MacAskill, who is in charge of justice, so that he can pass the message to the police and local authorities.

The Scottish Government has stated its position clearly, but we can inform it about the committee’s decision.

It has been suggested that we write to COSLA. If there are no further comments, I take it that, given the work of the Public Petitions Committee, the legislation that is in place in Scotland and the clearly stated positions of the Scottish Government and COSLA, members agree to close the petition, notify the petitioner of our decision and write to COSLA, as Margaret McDougall suggested.

I agree, with the proviso that the letter is copied to the Scottish Government.

Yes, we can copy it to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice. Are members happy with the proposed approach? Are we agreed?

Members indicated agreement.

In that case, I ask for the public seats to be cleared so that we can continue in private.

11:40 Meeting continued in private until 12:10.