The fight for tighter dog breeding controls in Scotland has been ramped up following a Courier investigation.
Following a recent written question to environment and rural affairs secretary, Richard Lochhead, MSPs Dr Nanette Milne and Liz Smith have called for breeding in socially rented properties to be properly tackled.
The Courier examined the issue in a series of articles this week in our special ‘Breeding Trouble’ investigation.
We heard from a range of owners, vets and animal welfare specialists about what they said was a growing problem in Scotland.
Dr Milne said: “The Courier are to be congratulated for giving this important issue such prominent coverage.
“I welcome the summit which the Scottish Government is to bring forward in the new year.
“It is vital that the issue of the breeding of dogs in social rented property will be included in this and that all interested parties from councils to housing associations are brought together.”
Ms Smith said UK Government action on microchipping dogs should be followed in Scotland.
She added: “I am concerned that if we do not have similar legislation in place in Scotland we could see the problem dramatically increase with Scotland becoming an easy route for the illegal import of puppies into the UK.
“There have been specific issues relating to puppy farms and the cross-border movement of dogs as well as the breeding of dogs in social rented properties in Scotland.”