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)?

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.

Response 01-09-2025

1. One

2. Vet inspection and/or inspection by a council animal services officer

3. a) None

b) None

c) None that we are aware of, although the council is not a prosecuting authority in Scotland. All prosecutions are by the COPFS.

d) Not applicable

4. Not applicable

5. Not held. Information that is not held falls under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Information not held.

6. Not held. The animal services officer simply confirmed there was no objection to the issue of the licence by email. Information that is not held falls under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Information not held.