Yousaf does a U-turn as he announces XL Bully dog ban
Humza Yousaf has confirmed Scotland will effectively replicate the ban on XL bully dogs introduced for England and Wales.
A spokesman for the First Minister was unable to say how many XL bully dogs have been moved north of the border to avoid a ban in England and Wales, despite plans to enact the policy in Scotland.
Humza Yousaf announced during First Minister’s Questions (FMQS) yesterday plans to “in essence replicate” measures in place south of the border, following reports people havebeenbringingtheanimals to Scotland in order to avoid restrictions.
The U-turn comes just six days after Mr Yousaf said he did not think Scotland needed to ban XL bully dogs because italreadyhada“strict regime” in place.
Under the recentlyenacted UK Government legislation, the breeding, selling and abandonmentofthedogsisillegal,whileownersneedtosecure a certificate by February 1.
The certificate involves paying a £92.40 application fee and dogs must also be kept on a lead and muzzled in public.
Speakingtojournalistsfollowing First Minister’s Questions, a spokesman for Mr Yousaf was asked to provide data on the number of dogs that have crossed the border. He was unable to, suggesting newspaper reports have had an impact on the decision.
In a statement, the Scottish SPCA – the country’s leading animal welfare and rehoming charity – said it has seen no increase in the number of XL bully dogs in its care.
The First Minister’s spokesman said: “These things are always a balance. As the First Ministersaidinthechamber,we still take the approach of deed, not breed – that’s still the general policy of the government and has been for a number of years. We’vegotcontrolofdogsnotices thatexistupherethatdon’texist down the road.
“Butcertainlyasthefirstminister said in the chamber, we havetodealwiththerealitythat we’re in.
“We’re reading reports that you guys are writing about potentially lots of dogs coming over the border and we have to make sure we have safeguards in place to deal with that.
“It’s a balance and we’ve taken a decisiononthatbalance.” Thecampaigngroup Bully Watch, which has called for action to be taken in Scotland, had estimated between100and200adultdogs have been transported north of the border.
Confirming the move in Scotland, the First Minister said: “What has become clear, I’m afraidinthelastfewweeks,iswe haveseenaflowofxlbullydogs coming to Scotland, a number of people coming to Scotland to bring XL bully dogs here to the country.
“As such, we will give further details to members of the Scottish Parliament through a parliamentarystatementiftheparliamentary bureau agrees next week.
“We will, in essence, replicate the legislation that is in Englandandwaleshereinscotland because ultimately, although we do have a very good system of dog control notice schemes, and we do take the approach indeed not to breed, we have to respond to the situation as it currently stands and therefore we will do what we need to do to ensure public safety.”
Scottish community safety minister Siobhian Brown is expected to make a statement laying out the policy in more detail next week.
This week, she told MSPS the matter was being reviewed “urgently” and said it would be “preferable” if people did not purchase XL bullies.
Ascottishspcaspokesperson said the charity would comply with the decision for Scotland, but remained opposed to a ban ofthistypeonaspecificdogtype.
Mike Flynn, chief superintendent of the Scottish SPCA, told the BBC: “Obviously, we’re a bit shocked, the sudden nature of the change of direction.
“Myunderstandingisthat[the Scottish Government] is having to act because of all the media reportsofdogsbeingbroughtup to Scotland and us being a kind of dumping ground.
“If it is going to go ahead, we would hope to work with the Scottish Government to make sure there's a better system in placeforpeopleregisteringtheir dogs than there has been down
Obviously, we’re a bit shocked, the sudden nature of the change of direction. If it is going to go ahead, we would hope to work with the Scottish Government
in England and Wales, which has been a total farce to be honest with you.”
Scottish Conservative MSP Jamie Greene described the decision as “a humiliating U-turn for Humza Yousaf and thesnpgovernment”.
“The first minister and his colleagues have wasted months playing political games and causing worry, only to now announce they will, rightly, replica te the UK Government’ s ban anyway,” he said.
“Having picked a needless fight with the UK Government, the SNP appeared blindsided by these dogs being rehomed in Scotland – when everyone else knew it would be the inevitable consequence of their actions.
“SNP ministers’ stubborn refusal to back a sensible Ukwide policy only put lives at risk in Scotland, caused unnecessary confusion and has led to huge repercussions over animal welfare.”
Christine Grahame, an SNP MSP since 1999, told ITV Border: “This Government has been bullied itself into doing this to comply. “It’s terrified that there could be another attack – and I agree that is something that could happen – and they’ll get the blame.” She said she was “rebelling” against the policy, saying there was “no way I can subscribe to this”.