Question reference: S6W-26202
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 15 March 2024
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Current status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 4 April 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-25890 by Siobhian Brown on 11 March 2024, when it will report back to the Parliament on its discussions with Police Scotland, local authorities and animal welfare organisations regarding the identification of XL Bully-type dogs.
Answer
I provided an update to the Scottish Parliament on this issue when I appeared before the Parliament’s Criminal Justice Committee on 27 March 2024 to give evidence to the Committee on The Dangerous Dogs (Compensation and Exemption Schemes) (Scotland) Order 2024 .
The Scottish Government is continuing to engage with Police Scotland, local authorities and animal welfare organisations in relation to the new safeguards and this includes in relation to how XL Bully dogs can be identified.
The conformation standard guidance document XL Bully dogs: applying the conformation standard - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) on the Scottish Government website is intended to be used to assist all those involved in the operation of the safeguards relating to XL Bully dogs in Scotland. This includes law enforcement, local authorities, animal welfare organisations and owners of dogs that may be XL Bully dogs.
The conformation standard guidance document also includes a video from ‘Blue Cross UK’ to show how to measure a dogs height.