Question reference: S6W-25528
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 13 February 2024
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Current status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 28 February 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to local authorities in implementing and enforcing the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010, and whether it has implemented any feedback mechanism that enables it to understand whether any such support is sufficient for each individual local authority.
Answer
All Scottish local authorities have a statutory duty under the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 (“the 2010 Act”) to appoint at least one officer for the purposes of the 2010 Act.
Local authority appointed 'authorised officers' (i.e. dog wardens) are expected to be skilled in the control of dogs, and also have the capacity to instruct and advise others in dog control matters.
The number of such staff employed in each council area is entirely a matter for each council to consider.
Scottish Government officials engage regularly with local authorities on matters in relation to dog control, via both COSLA and also the National Dog Warden Association (NDWA).
My statement to Parliament on 18 January 2024 committed the Scottish Government to working with key stakeholders to look at any improvements that could be made to the 2010 Act to strengthen and enhance the approach to preventative measures in the medium term.