Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 06 May 2014
06 May 2014 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Responsible Dog Ownership
Like others, I congratulate Kenny Gibson on his very thoughtful speech and on promoting the good work of the Dogs Trust. Indeed, I have visited my local Dogs Trust centre, which is in the Glasgow East constituency area, and I arranged for my dog, Buster, to be microchipped during that visit.
I agree with Dennis Robertson that the debate about microchipping dogs is straightforward. Microchipping would ensure that dog owners take responsibility for their pets and consider more seriously their role as responsible dog owners.
The Dogs Trust promotes and encourages responsible dog ownership. As the last member to speak in the debate before the minister, I am aware that almost all the previous speakers have advised that they are opposed to the possibility of muzzling all dogs in public places. However, I ask members to consider ensuring that the Parliament is given the opportunity to interrogate the possibilities and examples that exist in other parts of the world, including the example in the Republic of Ireland, where compulsory muzzling is in place for dogs with certain physical attributes.
I say that about muzzling because of my experience in dealing with the case of Broagan McCuaig, who many members will recall I spoke about in a previous members’ business debate that I brought to the chamber. Broagan was eight years old when she was attacked by two American bulldogs. Since that vicious attack in October last year, Broagan has continued to go through a rehabilitation process. Other speakers referred to examples of more serious dog attacks, which include the case of Kelly Lynch, who was attacked by two Rottweilers.
Given that serious dog attacks have taken place, I think that it would be wrong for Parliament to simply rule out the possibility of muzzling dogs without members being given the opportunity to take evidence through the parliamentary committee process from various experts in the field and to consider other options at the same time. We should also consider the very good work that has already taken place. I give special mention in that regard to the Alexandria and district community dog management centre, whose whole emphasis is on ensuring that people are responsible enough to be dog owners in the first place prior to their taking ownership of a dog. The emphasis of the project is on ensuring that people are trained to be dog owners rather than on training the dogs.
The challenge that faces the Parliament is to ensure that we look at all the available evidence, including that on muzzling and the examples of good work in places such as the Alexandria dog centre. We should also consider, as Malcolm Chisholm said, the examples of some of the horrific incidents, while recognising that we do not have all the answers for taking the issue forward. However, I think that it would be wrong of us to discount any option without taking evidence on it first.
17:54
I agree with Dennis Robertson that the debate about microchipping dogs is straightforward. Microchipping would ensure that dog owners take responsibility for their pets and consider more seriously their role as responsible dog owners.
The Dogs Trust promotes and encourages responsible dog ownership. As the last member to speak in the debate before the minister, I am aware that almost all the previous speakers have advised that they are opposed to the possibility of muzzling all dogs in public places. However, I ask members to consider ensuring that the Parliament is given the opportunity to interrogate the possibilities and examples that exist in other parts of the world, including the example in the Republic of Ireland, where compulsory muzzling is in place for dogs with certain physical attributes.
I say that about muzzling because of my experience in dealing with the case of Broagan McCuaig, who many members will recall I spoke about in a previous members’ business debate that I brought to the chamber. Broagan was eight years old when she was attacked by two American bulldogs. Since that vicious attack in October last year, Broagan has continued to go through a rehabilitation process. Other speakers referred to examples of more serious dog attacks, which include the case of Kelly Lynch, who was attacked by two Rottweilers.
Given that serious dog attacks have taken place, I think that it would be wrong for Parliament to simply rule out the possibility of muzzling dogs without members being given the opportunity to take evidence through the parliamentary committee process from various experts in the field and to consider other options at the same time. We should also consider the very good work that has already taken place. I give special mention in that regard to the Alexandria and district community dog management centre, whose whole emphasis is on ensuring that people are responsible enough to be dog owners in the first place prior to their taking ownership of a dog. The emphasis of the project is on ensuring that people are trained to be dog owners rather than on training the dogs.
The challenge that faces the Parliament is to ensure that we look at all the available evidence, including that on muzzling and the examples of good work in places such as the Alexandria dog centre. We should also consider, as Malcolm Chisholm said, the examples of some of the horrific incidents, while recognising that we do not have all the answers for taking the issue forward. However, I think that it would be wrong of us to discount any option without taking evidence on it first.
17:54
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
The final item of business is a debate on motion S4M-09752, in the name of Kenneth Gibson, on microchipping and muzzling. The debate will be concluded withou...
Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP)
SNP
I thank the members who signed the motion and made this debate possible. I also thank Dogs Trust, the Kennel Club and OneKind Charity for their briefings and...
Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
I start by thanking Kenny Gibson for securing the debate. I thank Dogs Trust for all its work campaigning for compulsory microchipping in Scotland and across...
Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
SNP
I, too, congratulate the member on securing the debate, which is a bit of a reprise of the debate that Claire Baker secured last September, in which I also t...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
Mr Q has been giving your remarks his full attention. I now call Christine Grahame—sorry, Alex Fergusson, to be followed by Malcolm Chisholm.17:20
Alex Fergusson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Con
Christine Grahame once in the debate is quite enough, Presiding Officer.I join other members in congratulating Kenny Gibson and Dogs Trust on enabling the de...
Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (Lab)
Lab
I congratulate Kenny Gibson on securing the debate. I think that it is our third debate on dogs in the past few months—my colleagues Paul Martin and Claire B...
Christine Grahame
SNP
Will Malcolm Chisholm take an intervention?
Malcolm Chisholm
Lab
I do not think that I have time; I am in my last minute.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
You can take back the time.
Christine Grahame
SNP
I simply remind Malcolm Chisholm that bad though attacks in public areas are, most really bad attacks take place on private land and in homes, so leads would...
Malcolm Chisholm
Lab
We cannot solve all the problems with one measure, but if we could solve the problem in public places, it would certainly make the lives of many of my and, I...
Graeme Dey (Angus South) (SNP)
SNP
I begin by paying tribute to the Dogs Trust. All too often we MSPs are approached by organisations promoting an approach that they wish the Government to ado...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
Due to the number of members who still wish to speak in the debate, I am minded to accept a motion without notice to extend the debate by up to 30 minutes.Mo...
Elaine Murray (Dumfriesshire) (Lab)
Lab
I congratulate Kenny Gibson on securing the debate. I had some concerns about the wording of the last part of his motion, which I will refer to later, but he...
Joan McAlpine (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I, too, congratulate my colleague Kenny Gibson on securing the debate. I am also grateful for the briefings from the Dogs Trust and OneKind that have helped ...
Jean Urquhart (Highlands and Islands) (Ind)
Ind
I, too, welcome the debate and congratulate Kenneth Gibson on bringing it to the chamber.Last summer, I was invited to visit the Dogs Trust rehoming centre i...
Dennis Robertson (Aberdeenshire West) (SNP)
SNP
Like other members, I congratulate both Kenneth Gibson and the Dogs Trust on bringing the debate to the chamber. My contribution to the debate is, I hope, as...
Paul Martin (Glasgow Provan) (Lab)
Lab
Like others, I congratulate Kenny Gibson on his very thoughtful speech and on promoting the good work of the Dogs Trust. Indeed, I have visited my local Dogs...
The Minister for Environment and Climate Change (Paul Wheelhouse)
SNP
I thank my colleague Kenneth Gibson for lodging the motion for this evening’s debate and the other colleagues who have contributed so ably to it. It is proba...