Council wants tougher controls over dog sales

Online trading could result in animals being sold to unsuitable homes and owners

Dundee City Council wants to see tougher controls put in place to regulate the sale of dogs online.

A report to go before the local authority’s community safety and public protection committee on Monday includes the council’s proposed response to Scottish Government consultation on the Control of Dogs Act (2010).

The report reveals Dundee City Council has issued 84 Dog Control Notices since 2018 and carried out 1,180 investigations into complaints of aggressive or out-of-control dogs.

But the council’s response warns unscrupulous breeders or owners may be selling dogs to unsuitable homes online and suggests taking action to police such sales.

The calls have been backed by the Scottish SPCA, the country’s leading animal charity.

Committee convener Alan Ross said: “This is a consultation response but what we would say is that we feel some kind of formal mechanism would be helpful. It would have to be something that was done nationally.”

The SNP councillor added: “There might be a dog that is subject to a control order that is sold online and the people buying the dog might not know. It’s that kind of thing we are trying to stop.

“Genuine breeders will ask buyers about what experience they have with dogs, or if they have children in the house but other sellers might just be out for a quick buck.”

He added: “This is predominantly about the safety of young people and children but there is also an animal welfare angle too.”

Councillors will be asked to approve the response to the call for evidence on Monday. It states: “Individual dogs changing ownership via social media/ through online marketplaces, rather

than via dog kennels/ rehoming charities is more commonplace these days.

“As a result of this, dogs not suitable for certain households, ie due to a lack of space, or the presence of children or other animals, can be brought in to such households unregulated.

“Dogs that are aggressive, known to bite, or are unwell, could also be changing ownership by such means.

“The introduction of a formal means or mechanism for assessing the suitability of introducing a dog (at purchase or transfer of ownership) into a new environment may reduce the risk or likelihood of a dog incident occurring.”

“This is about the safety of young people and children...