SNP dragging their heels over XL Bully dog legislation is just barking mad

Sir, – With regard to the article on XL Bully dogs in The P&J on January 4, it is blatantly obvious that the SNP are dragging their heels on this particular issue purely and simply because they can, as is usually the case, and have stated that they have not quite made their minds up on the legislation to ban them in Scotland in line with the rest of the UK.

As a result, this has created a frenzy of irresponsible idiots crossing the border to try and bring as many of these dogs as they can up to Scotland for rehoming. They are using Scotland as a dumping ground for the dogs and are fully utilising the loopholes available when they still can, without having thought, organised, or planned anything through.

The people who are ferrying the dogs over the border have obviously not stopped to think about the implications this will create long term.

As some of the XL Bully breed of dog have already attacked, maimed and killed, it would suggest that, at the very least, only people with experience in handling and looking after this type of dog should be considered in taking part in an organised and official rehoming programme.

It is very obvious that this is not what is happening. More likely it is a case of “hands up, who wants to rehome a dog?” – a recipe for disaster. How much more ridiculous and irresponsible can it get?

So, the plan is to rehome these dogs in Scotland, I presume, for the rest of their lives, say 10 to 15 years? I don’t believe for one minute that the story will end there and I doubt lovers of this breed of dog do either. What will most likely happen is that the breeding of this type of dog will be driven underground and undertaken illegally and in secret. The alternative is that the XL Bully will be extinct in the UK within 15 years – I doubt that.

Lastly, nobody who owns this type of dog, or any dog for that matter can be 100% sure that it will never attack another animal or human.

To say “oh, but my dog has never attacked before” after the event, is much the same as shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted. One attack is one too many. Christine McLellan, Elgin.

DITHERING? First Minister Humza Yousaf and a controversial XL Bully dog.