17 Sep 2018
A “concerning” increase in the use of dog control notices (DCN) has been identified by the Scottish Conservatives.
The latest figures, outlined in a written answer from the Scottish Government, show that DCNs have increased by 247 since 2011-12, a rise of 270 percent.
The increase could potentially be even more as Glasgow is not included in the numbers.
The local authority with the highest usage of dog control notices last year is Fife with 59, a staggering 500 percent increase since 2011, while the lowest are Inverclyde and Edinburgh with none at all.
A DCN can be issued to owners of dogs that have been shown to be ‘out of control’ and require the owner to modify and manage the dog’s behaviour in order to control it in the interest of public safety.
The DCN places a statutory duty on dog owners to keep their dogs under control and may contain a number of measures that the owner is required to implement within a stated timeframe.
Commenting on the figures Scottish Conservative MSP, Maurice Golden said:
“This continuous increase in the usage of dog control notices is concerning as it indicates more incidents of ‘out of control’ dogs have taken place and people have been put at risk.
“Owning a dog is a real joy but also comes with responsibilities. All dog owners must ensure that their dogs are trained, socialised and supervised so that they are not a risk to humans or animals.
“The steep rise in the usage of the control notices suggests that this is a worsening problem and this poses a greater risk to the public and other animals.
“The dramatic regional variations in dog control notices may also suggest that they are being enforced differently which, in itself, raises questions.
“Ultimately dog owners must take responsibility for their own dogs, take the time to train and socialise them appropriately and then everyone will enjoy having a dog as part of the family.
“Local authorities must use the powers they have to intervene meaningfully to ensure that no one is at risk from a dangerous dog.”
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