Contributions
506 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Second sitting)Q Dr Wright, thank you very much for your evidence, which has been very helpful indeed. One issue is that if the vast majority of attacks on livestock come from animals that are…09 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Second sitting)Thank you, Dr Wright; that is very helpful indeed.09 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Second sitting)Thank you very much.09 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Second sitting)Q Indeed, and I think you are highlighting the problem where an offender or somebody who has been involved in this behaviour is on state benefit; they may be asked to repay the…09 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Second sitting)Q One witness who has given evidence stated that in certain cases that are proceeding or have proceeded through the Scottish courts, dogs are kept in kennels for long periods—we…09 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Second sitting)Q In Scottish law, is there an offence similar to what we are talking about where a dog attacks or worries livestock? Mike Flynn: Yes. It was in the original 1953 Act. The…09 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Second sitting)Q But where there is no other option, if a dog is detained by the police or any authority, perhaps for very good reason, are there any facilities other than kennels where it can…09 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Second sitting)Q If the state is detaining an animal in kennels, for whatever reason, for a lengthy period of time—potentially up to 12 months, or longer—would you advise the Government or have…09 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Second sitting)Q Hi Rob. I have just looked on your organisation’s website. Your organisation advises the Government on important dog and cat health and welfare issues and standards. Is that…09 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Second sitting)Thank you.09 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Second sitting)Q There is no dispute regarding disqualification from future purchase. What I am concerned about is the dog that is already under the ownership of a person and what happens to…09 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Second sitting)Q So you do not see it as the responsibility of the police or somebody else to rehome a dog in an appropriate way when it has been taken, to ensure that its welfare is maintained?…09 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Second sitting)Q I have one final brief question. We clearly do not want to be in a situation where, if a disqualification order is made, the person convicted of a criminal offence is given…09 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Second sitting)Q I understand that, and I appreciate the point you are making. Clause 33(4) says: “Any dog taken into possession in pursuance of an order under subsection (1) or (2)”— which is…09 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Second sitting)Q My final question is on the power of disqualification, which I assume you fully understand. People obviously can have more than one dog, so there may be a situation where one…09 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Second sitting)Q A witness who gave evidence this morning said that there are examples from Scotland of dogs being kept for three or four years. Rob Taylor: I have never come across that.09 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Second sitting)Q How would we as a Committee be confident that the dog’s welfare needs would be met after such a long time in kennels? Rob Taylor: The dog would be kept in kennels and would be…09 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Second sitting)Q So what happens to the dog for that length of time? Rob Taylor: It would be kept in kennels until such a time.09 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Second sitting)Q Okay. You can see the difference between what constitutes a decision for seven days and what constitutes a decision for what would potentially be a very lengthy period of time.…09 Nov 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill (Second sitting)Q There is a potential contradiction in the Bill regarding the situation that I have just read out, where a constable has reasonable grounds to believe that a criminal offence has…09 Nov 2021