Question reference: S6W-24486
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 12 January 2024
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Current status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 24 January 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the XL bully dog breed having been added to the list of dogs banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, what evidence it is aware of that adding a dog breed to this list has reduced dog attacks, and whether it will provide details of all dog attacks reported in Scotland since January 2004 to date, including (a) whether any resulted in a fatality and (b) the breed or cross breed of the dog(s) involved.
Answer
In light of the UK Government failing to ensure English and Welsh XL Bully dog owners cannot evade the new safeguards through selling or otherwise disposing of their dogs in Scotland, the Scottish Government has been left with little choice to decide to replicate the new safeguards in Scotland. Through replicating the new regime, this will ensure owners have no ability to evade the new controls.
More generally on the effectiveness of breed specific legislation, there is no central database within Scotland or the UK that provides available data on breakdown by breed or crossbreed dogs, involved in dog attacks.
However, National Records Scotland collects data in relation to ‘Deaths from being bitten or struck by a dog in Scotland’. There have been three deaths from being bitten or struck by a dog in Scotland between 2004 and 2022. Information for 2023 is not yet available. Data on the breed or type of dogs involved is not recorded.
In addition, Public Health Scotland collects data on the number of inpatient and day case admissions to hospital where a diagnosis of dog attack (bite or strike) was recorded. The available data from 2004 to 2022 is included in the following table:
Calendar year | Admissions |
2004 | 340 |
2005 | 399 |
2006 | 431 |
2007 | 421 |
2008 | 492 |
2009 | 501 |
2010 | 487 |
2011 | 559 |
2012 | 608 |
2013 | 598 |
2014 | 676 |
2015 | 706 |
2016 | 776 |
2017 | 765 |
2018 | 834 |
2019 | 905 |
2020 | 765 |
2021 | 854 |
2022 | 933 |
These figures are based solely on admissions to hospital for acute care as an inpatient or day case. Care should be taken when interpreting these figures as dog attacks can be treated also in other healthcare settings which are not included here, such as accident and emergency department, out of hours, outpatient or general practice services.