Consultation on Licensing of Dog, Cat and Rabbit Breeding Activities in Scotland

Overview

This consultation is seeking views on proposals to introduce new regulations for the licensing of dog, cat and rabbit breeding activities in Scotland.

This consultation covers the proposals for a modern system of licensing for dog, cat and rabbit breeding activities allowing for independent accreditation of applicants to reduce the burden on local authorities. 

The consultation considers how thresholds for licensing may be determined depending on the size of the undertaking and how this may work for organisations with multiple premises.

Why your views matter

The Scottish Government's Programme for Government 2017-18 included the commitment to improve licensing for dog, cat and rabbit breeding, dealing and selling so that conditions in breeding units in Scotland can be properly controlled and breeders identified when advertising animals for sale.

Consultation is an essential part of the policymaking process. It gives us the opportunity to consider your opinion and expertise on the issues related to breeding, dealing and selling of dogs, cats and rabbits.

The Scottish Government is seeking views of all interested parties to refine policy and legislative development on this topic.

Following the closing date, all responses will be analysed and considered along with any other available evidence to help us formulate appropriate legislation to protect the welfare of cats, dogs and rabbits bred for sale. 

Where respondents have given permission for their response to be made public, and after we have checked that they contain no potentially defamatory material, responses will be made available to the public on this page. 

The responses to the consultaiton and analysis will be published in winter 2018-19.

Download the consultation paper.