(f) whether the acquirer is committed to caring for the dog throughout its life. (3) The prospective acquirer (or a person acting on that person’s behalf) and the prospective supplier are (unless this is not practicable) to meet in person before reaching any 30 agreement to transfer the dog from one to the other. 3 Content of code: in relation to sale or transfer of young dog by first owner (1) This section applies in relation to the transfer of a dog if— (a) the dog is aged less than 12 months, and (b) the prospective supplier is the first owner of the litter of puppies from which the 35 dog comes. (2) The dog is not to be transferred if it is aged less than 8 weeks. (3) Before acquiring the dog, the prospective acquirer is (unless this is not practicable) to see the dog with its biological mother. 3 Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Bill Part 1—Promotion of good practice (3A) Subsection (3) does not apply if— (a) separation of the dog from its biological mother is necessary for the welfare of the dog, other dogs from the same litter or its biological mother, or (b) its biological mother is deceased. 5 (4) Before acquiring the dog, the prospective acquirer is to— (a) become familiar with circumstances in which the activity of supplying a dog aged less than 12 months would require a licence or registration under regulations made under section 27(1) or (2) of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, and 10 (b) if it appears that any such circumstances may be applicable in relation to the 1 transfer of the dog, take all reasonable steps to establish that the licence or registration (as the case may be) is in place. (4A) Before acquiring the dog, the prospective acquirer is to confirm with the prospective supplier that the dog has been microchipped. 15 (5) In this section— “first owner” means the person who owns the litter at the time of its birth, “microchipped” means microchipped in accordance with regulation 6 of The Microchipping of Dogs (Scotland) Regulations 2016 (S.S.I. 2016/58). 4 Content of code: certificate 20 (1) This section applies in relation to the transfer of a dog of any age. (2) Before acquiring the dog, the prospective acquirer is to complete a certificate relating to the matters mentioned in subsection (4) which the prospective acquirer and the prospective supplier are then to sign. (3) The code of practice must prescribe the form of the certificate. 25 (4) The certificate must— (a) require the prospective acquirer to confirm that the prospective acquirer has considered the matters set out in the code of practice, (b) if provision giving effect to section 3 is included in the code of practice and applies to the transfer of the dog— 30 (i) require the prospective acquirer to confirm that they have checked with the prospective supplier and believe the dog is at least 8 weeks of age, (ia) require the prospective supplier to confirm that the dog is at least 8 weeks of age, and (ii) require the prospective acquirer to confirm that they have complied with 35 section 3(3) and (4), (ba) require the prospective acquirer to confirm that they have received— (zi) the microchip details of the dog, (i) any relevant health records relating to the dog, and (ii) details of the veterinary practice the prospective supplier is registered with. 4 Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Bill Part 1—Promotion of good practice (d) include the name and address of the prospective acquirer and the prospective supplier, and (e) include any other matter the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate. (5) The certificate is to be kept by the acquirer during the period of the acquirer’s ownership 5 of the dog. (6) The acquirer is to show the certificate to a person who is exercising a relevant power under schedule 1 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, if— (a) the acquirer is a qualifying person, and (b) the person exercising the relevant power reasonably requires to see it. 10 (7) In subsection (6), “relevant power” and “qualifying person” have the meanings given 1 in schedule 1 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006. (8) In this section “microchip” has the meaning given in The Microchipping of Dogs (Scotland) Regulations 2016 (S.S.I. 2016/58). 5 Revision of code 15 (1) The Scottish Ministers may revise the code of practice as it has effect for the time being. (1A) Section 1(1A) to (3) apply to revising the code of practice as they apply to making the first code of practice. (4) A revised code of practice is to come into effect on such date as is specified in it. (5) Whenever the code of practice is revised, the Scottish Ministers must re-publish the 20 code of practice as revised. 6 Effect of code (1) A person’s failure to comply with any provision of the code of practice does not of itself make the person liable to proceedings of any sort. (2) In any proceedings for a relevant offence— 25 (a) failure to comply with a relevant provision of the code of practice may be relied on as tending to establish liability, and (b) compliance with a relevant provision of the code of practice may be relied on as tending to negative liability. (3) A “relevant offence” is an offence under— 30 (a) Part 2 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, or (b) regulations made under section 26 or 27 of that Act. (4) The references in this section to the code of practice are to it as it has effect at the time of the failure to comply, or the compliance, concerned. 7 Public awareness and understanding of code 35 (1) The Scottish Ministers must take reasonable steps to ensure public awareness and understanding of the code of practice. (2) The Scottish Ministers must, in particular, take reasonable steps to ensure that there is awareness and understanding of the code of practice among school pupils. 5 Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Bill Part 3—General (3) Before determining what steps to take to ensure public awareness and understanding of the code of practice, the Scottish Ministers must— (a) consult organisations with an interest in the welfare of dogs, and (b) consider how such organisations could contribute to any steps to be taken. 5 P ART 3 G ENERAL 13 Commencement This Act comes into force at the end of the period of 2 months beginning with the day of Royal Assent. 10 14 Short title 1 The short title of this Act is the Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2024...