Committee
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee 21 February 2024
21 Feb 2024 · S6 · Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Item of business
New Petitions
Dog Boarding Kennels (Fire Safety) (PE2058)
I think that we should write to the Scottish Government to ask when its analysis of the responses to its consultation on the licensing of activities involving animals will be published and whether it will give specific consideration to fire safety in the forthcoming animal boarding regulations. In that letter, it would be worth while highlighting rehoming centres, which are not boarding kennels but are similar facilities, with the caveat that the dogs in them do not have owners. Otherwise, they are essentially similar facilities and, I presume, the requirements would be the same. I also wonder—I am relaxed about whether we should do this once we get a response to that letter—whether we should write to the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities about licensing requirements and whether local authorities would have the resources to check on the matter, as well as to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to find out how prevalent the issue is. It is clear that there is one case, but how often does that happen? For context, it is important to differentiate between rehoming centres and boarding kennels. That approach might provide us with an indication of how prevalent the activity is.
In the same item of business
The Convener
Con
PE2058, on requiring all dog boarding kennels to install smoke detectors, smoke alarms and sprinkler systems, was lodged by Julie Louden. The petition calls ...
Maurice Golden
Con
I think that we should write to the Scottish Government to ask when its analysis of the responses to its consultation on the licensing of activities involvin...
The Convener
Con
Those suggestions seem to be very worth while.
Fergus Ewing
SNP
I support Mr Golden’s suggestions, but will add one inquiry that should be made, although I am not quite sure of whom. Obviously, we have legislation on spri...
The Convener
Con
That is also a perfectly reasonable suggestion to make. We will take forward the petition, mindful of all the suggestions that colleagues have made. I wonde...
Maurice Golden
Con
I do not know about boarding kennels. There is one at Happas, near Forfar. Edinburgh Cat and Dog Home deals with rehoming, and it might even have made an ass...
The Convener
Con
In view of Mr Ewing’s comments, it might be worth our asking one or two relevant associations what they believe the consequence of the proposal would be and ...
Fergus Ewing
SNP
I do not think that they are extremely profitable businesses.
The Convener
Con
No. Okay. We can do that, too.