The Welfare of Dogs Bill has been passed in Holyrood, aiming to improve the well-being of dogs and to regulate the selling and trading of puppies.
The Bill was first introduced in June 2023 and passed Stage 3 on 23 January 2025 after a debate in Parliament.
The Bill allows the Scottish Government to create a register of litters bred by people who are not licensed breeders. The changes will ensure that all sellers of puppies will be regulated.
The Government will also set out a code of practice that must be agreed to and followed by all dog owners, with the aim of encouraging people to consider if they will be able to provide for a dog’s needs.
The bill was introduced by Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale, and Lauderdale.
At the Meeting of the Parliament, she said: “Seven years ago, I saw the growth in the supply of puppies and dogs for purchase online on Gumtree and from puppy factory farms, and I thought about what could be done to reduce that.”
She continued: “The animal welfare issues, emotional distress, massive vet fees and high mortality rates that come about as a result of illegal puppy farming and the buying of dogs that people cannot care for have been well established. The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has estimated that the illegal puppy trade is worth £13 million a year in Scotland.”
Both sellers and buyers of dogs will be required to agree to the code of practice, with a certificate being issued upon the agreement of both parties. The certificate is based on the process followed in France, where certificates have been required to buy dogs or other animals since 2022.
Parliament is also planning to debate the banning of shock collars, described by the SSPCA as a “cruel and counterproductive practice.”
Illustration by Berenika Murray.