Meeting of the Parliament 09 May 2024
I thank Christine Grahame for her work so far on the bill, which addresses issues that I know are very close to her heart. I also thank the committee for its work on the stage 1 report.
Over the years, there has been a huge shift in the attitudes that we, as a nation, hold about the welfare and care of animals, which is very welcome. Recently, the sixth annual Holyrood dog of the year competition took place. It was described by The Edinburgh Reporter as
“arguably the most sought-after accolade in Scottish politics.”
That is a subjective matter, of course, and I will continue my one-woman campaign for a Holyrood cat of the year competition. Nonetheless, I am sure that colleagues will join me in congratulating my colleague Marie McNair, with her dog Heidi, on winning this year’s coveted title. The competition is not only about celebrating the positive impact that dog ownership has on people’s lives; it also plays an important role in spotlighting welfare issues, and it keeps a focus on where improvements could be made.
Across Scotland, there has been a surge in dog ownership, which has no doubt been exacerbated, in part, by the Covid-19 pandemic. Sadly, that growth has gone hand in hand with reports of record numbers of pets being surrendered to animal rescue centres across the country. When there is a surge in demand, there is a scrabble to provide supply, which has, unfortunately, led to a rise in unscrupulous breeding. The committee’s report acknowledges evidence from stakeholders that the effects of irresponsible breeding can be catastrophic, from young puppies dying within hours of going home to their new families to puppies and their mothers facing serious health risks.
The bill shines a light on the need for us not only to continue to strive for the highest possible animal welfare standards and to call out and stamp out cruel and irresponsible breeding practices that are more to do with caring about money than a love of dogs, but to open what might be a difficult conversation.
There is no doubt that, as much as a dog can bring joy and companionship to its owner’s life, it also brings a great deal of responsibility and duty. Welcoming a dog into your home should be a big decision. It is very concerning, therefore, to hear stakeholders’ concerns that people can be unsure what questions to ask and what research to do before taking that step.
The Kennel Club states that at least a fifth of people will spend less than two hours researching whether to buy a puppy—which is potentially a 15-year commitment—with a third saying that they do not know how to spot a rogue breeder. Ultimately, people need trusted information about the important questions to ask of breeders, about the health concerns that relate to particular breeds and about their responsibilities as owners.
Members across the chamber will know that, for many years, I have called for an end to the cruel and outdated practice of greyhound racing, and, earlier this year, I was pleased to welcome Mark Ruskell’s proposed bill to prohibit greyhound racing.
I pay tribute to the many organisations and individuals who have campaigned for years for an end to greyhound racing. Many of them are constituents of mine. They have highlighted welfare concerns about those dogs to the public and to elected members across the political spectrum. In my Rutherglen constituency, that chapter of history is now closing, and our community can look forward to a new future for the Shawfield stadium site.
It became very clear to me from the constituents who contacted me ahead of this debate how deeply important animal welfare issues are to them. Like many members—perhaps every member—across the chamber, I would definitely characterise my constituency as one of dog lovers.
The crux of the bill is to improve the health and wellbeing of dogs throughout their lives, starting from the point that a prospective owner decides to welcome one into their life. I am sure that we can all support that aim, and I look forward to further discussions about how it can be progressed.
15:50