FOI Request - Dog Breeding Licences

Request 101003835407

1. How many dog breeders are currently licensed by your council?

2. How do you assess compliance with the dog breeding licence condition set out in sch 6, para 8(5) of the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 (“LAIAR”), which states, “No dog may be kept for breeding if it can reasonably be expected, on the basis of its genotype, conformation, behaviour or state of health, that breeding from it could have a detrimental effect on its health or welfare or the health or welfare of its offspring”?

3. Please advise:
a. How many instances of non-compliance with sch 6, para 8(5) of LAIAR has your council recorded since September 2021?

b. How many dog breeding licences have been i. refused, ii. varied, iii. suspended or iv. revoked by your council due to non-compliance with sch 6, para 8(5) of LAIAR since September 2021?

c. How many operators have been i. prosecuted for and ii. convicted of an offence contrary to reg 23(1)(a) LAIAR by your council for breaching the dog breeding licence condition contained in sch 6, para 8(5) LAIAR?

d. If applicable, what penalties were imposed on any convicted operators referred to in your response to 3(c)?

(Please provide a breakdown for the above information by year using the example table below.)

Year Number of recorded instances of non-compliance with sch 6 para 8(5). Number of licences refused due to non-compliance with sch 6 para 8(5). Number of licences varied due to non-compliance with sch 6 para 8(5). Number of licences suspended due to non-compliance with sch 6 para 8(5). Number of licences revoked due to non-compliance with sch 6 para 8(5). Number of prosecutions for breaching sch 6 para 8(5). Number of convictions for breaching sch 6 para 8(5). Penalties imposed on operators convicted for breaching sch 6 para 8(5).

4.  With reference to your answer to question 3(a) above, if any instances of non-compliance were recorded, please indicate the grounds upon which the operator was found to be in breach of sch 6, para 8(5) LAIAR?

5.  Please provide copies of any internal policies relating to the enforcement and implementation of the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021.

6.  For all dog breeding licences issued or refused in the past three years, please provide copies of inspection forms held. I understand that any personal information will need to be redacted. If inspection reports are not held (e.g because inspections are carried out by another local authority or regulatory service on your council’s behalf) please provide the name of the authority / service provider that holds this information.

If this request exceeds cost of compliance limits, please prioritise questions 3, 4 and 6 and advise via email how I may refine the remainder of my request to ensure it fits within the scope of the Act.