Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 16 March 2022
Having listened to Jamie Greene’s speech, I am not sure that I want that particular dog.
Each of those west Highland terriers had its own personality. In fact, to be truthful, I had a bit of a problematic relationship with at least one of them. The dog saw me as an interloper in the family and itself as the true heir. Of course, dogs see themselves in that way, and people treat them as full and equal members of the family.
There came a point in life when my mum and dad decided that they had reached an age when they were not going to get another dog. That was when my dad’s health began to become an issue, and my sister had the bright idea that what dad needed was a dog. He had always had a dog and so he got a rescue dog, Tara.
Now, if anyone ever loved a dog, my dad did, and if anyone here has ever loved a dog they will know the difference that a dog can make to a person. It made a huge difference to my dad and his love of life. That dog had been abused and was very nervous, but dad’s devotion to it calmed the poor creature’s nerves and nervousness.
He walked it several times a day and pampered it. In return, the dog showed him nothing but devotion. It was a perfect match.
I say all that because I want to assert that a dog is not a thing. That should be accepted, and there should be some statute that reflects it. A dog is a loving and loyal companion. From walks to eating schedules, diaries are often structured around the needs of a dog. Such a time commitment demonstrates the burgeoning relationship between a dog and its owner.
When a dog is stolen, the separation of that loving relationship causes trauma for both sides: for the owner, who is separated from a loving companion that has always been there for them, leaving them with emotions that range from anger to despair, and for the dog, on having been ripped away from their safe home and loving owner. Who can imagine the feelings of insecurity, vulnerability and loneliness that a dog has in that situation?
For the welfare of owners and pets, we in the Scottish Parliament can take a lead and treat the issue of dog theft with the seriousness that it deserves. Worryingly, an increasing number of families are facing that heartbreaking situation. In well-crafted and well-informed speeches, a number of members referred to the number of dog theft cases in 2020 compared with the previous year. That has been well rehearsed, so I will not take time to revisit those statistics.
We in the Parliament should not be content to accept that situation; we need to do something about it. We must ensure that owners can remain hopeful of reunion by ensuring that there is some kind of justice. We must ensure that dogs can feel the love and security of their owners and home again.
I thank Maurice Golden for raising the profile of dog theft and highlighting the need for a specific crime of dog theft. I repeat that dogs are not objects; they are not even just pets—they are loving members of families across Scotland, and the law should be updated to acknowledge and recognise that fact. Therefore, I support the call for there to be specific legislation on dog theft.