| Scots dog Asbo plan wins backing |
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| Written by Dog World News |
| Monday, 15 February 2010 03:51 |
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Plans for "dog Asbos" in Scotland to clampdown on irresponsible owners have been backed in principle by MSPs.
The Control of Dogs Bill would allow councils to impose restrictions on owners who fail to control their pets.
Holyrood's local government committee backed the move, but questioned whether councils would be able to afford to implement the control notices.
Parliament voted for the bill, which will now go forward to the next stage of scrutiny at Holyrood.
The backbench bill, brought forward by the SNP's Christine Grahame, could see owners forced to keep their dog on a lead in public or have their dog neutered.
'Improving behaviour'
Other measures open to local authorities would include fines of up to £1,000 and requiring irresponsible owners to attend dog control training courses.
South of Scotland MSP Ms Grahame said: "This new legislation will place the onus on the deed and not the breed of the dog, which has caused so much difficulty in England where the legislation remains extremely problematic.
"The legislation I am proposing should improve the behaviour of owners and that should lead to an improvement in the behaviour of their dogs."
Responding to concerns over costs, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said the legislation had been designed as a preventative measure, and did not envisage councils having to issue large numbers of control notices on a weekly basis.
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Plans for "dog Asbos" in Scotland to clampdown on irresponsible owners have been backed in principle by MSPs.
The Control of Dogs Bill would allow councils to impose restrictions on owners who fail to control their pets.
Holyrood's local government committee backed the move, but questioned whether councils would be able to afford to implement the control notices.
Parliament voted for the bill, which will now go forward to the next stage of scrutiny at Holyrood.
The backbench bill, brought forward by the SNP's Christine Grahame, could see owners forced to keep their dog on a lead in public or have their dog neutered.
'Improving behaviour'
Other measures open to local authorities would include fines of up to £1,000 and requiring irresponsible owners to attend dog control training courses.
South of Scotland MSP Ms Grahame said: "This new legislation will place the onus on the deed and not the breed of the dog, which has caused so much difficulty in England where the legislation remains extremely problematic.
"The legislation I am proposing should improve the behaviour of owners and that should lead to an improvement in the behaviour of their dogs."
Responding to concerns over costs, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said the legislation had been designed as a preventative measure, and did not envisage councils having to issue large numbers of control notices on a weekly basis.
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