Action by the Scottish Government to tackle the scourge of danger dogs has been welcomed by an Angus campaigner.
Angus Dog Rescue chairman Ian Robb has backed a proposed conference on the subject in the new year, and hopes it will help tackle the problem.
A consultation was launched last week that will explore a legal obligation to microchip all dogs, and as an expert on the subject Mr Robb said he would welcome the opportunity to get involved in the debate.
Mr Robb said: “I am really pleased at long last after four years of campaigning on issues like this that finally the First Minister has started to take an interest in this himself.
“This should have been looked into a lot earlier, but I am glad it is happening and I just hope that the Scottish government involve the right type of people in the process.
“It needs to be people who are at the front line of what’s going on in their community.”
Mr Salmond announced the conference after meeting the parents of three child victims at Holyrood.
The event will bring together local authorities, the police and victims’ groups in a bid to examine what more can be done to address the issue.
Mr Robb added that the conference has to look at all aspects of poor dog ownership, not just dangerous dogs, and said that some prospective owners target charities like his own because they are under pressure with a constant influx of animals.
“I think certain people prey on that,” he said. “That’s why we have a policy that we home check everyone who wants a dog from us and keep our eyes and ears on new owners.
“I travel all over Angus so I know what’s going on. We are under pressure with these types of dogs and people do target us.
“However, we will keep a dog as long as we have to and make sure it gets the right home. Touch wood, we’ve not got it wrong yet.”
He added: “I would more than welcome an approach from the Scottish Government to put our side of the story across.”