Christine Grahame has blasted the ban as ‘hasty and simplistic’ and wants tighter rules to be introduced
By Lucy Ashton
An SNP backbencher has called for the XL Bully ban in Scotland to be annulled, just weeks after saying the Scottish Government were being “bullied” into the move.
Dog lover MSP Christine Grahame’s motion, lodged at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday, calls for Holyrood’s Criminal Justice Committee to step in to block the legislation coming into force later this month.
First Minister Humza Yousaf had initially resisted calls for a ban before he was forced into a hasty U-turn last month amid a flood of reports about unscrupulous owners dodging the ban in England and Wales by rehoming the dogs in Scotland.
Some 15 people are said to have been killed by an XL Bully or XL Bully cross in the UK since November 2021, with dozens more attacked and injured – including several recent cases in Scotland involving rehomed animals.
Ms Grahame’s motion, Scottish Conservative MSP Jamie Greene said: “It was bad enough that the SNP Government dragged their heels over replicating the sensible UK ban – leading to an influx of these deadly dogs to Scotland – but now rebels in their own party are seeking to overturn their belated U-turn.
The MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale said: “It places blame and responsibility where it lies – on the breeder and the owner, not the dog.”
Christine Grahame (centre) with parliamentary dog lovers at Holyrood. Picture by Alan Simpson
XL Bullies I have to say a powerful frightening beasts. Popular with class of folks that keep other massive attack type dogs and who are proud of their fearsome beast I think dog lover Christine is misplaced in her sentiment.
These dogs have the propensity to do real harm.
I think you don’t have a clue what you’re talking about! I have 4 xl bullies a staffie and a jack Russel and have never brought my dogs up in a dangerous manner all loved as part of the family and don’t behave any differently from any dog!
Scaremongering at its best. Way off point classing all bully owners the same. That’s the same as saying all men are rapists. Reasonable regulations are the way forward. Blanket ban means they move to the next
I own an xl bully – my husband is an accountant with a big four firm. I have my own businesses. Our children are all professionals and have degrees and MScs. I don’t think we fit the photofit of the suggested XL Bully owner. There is no such thing. It shows how out of touch Billie is.
Big talking point here, a matter of great public interest. When you look at the number of people who have been attacked by these dogs, of course there is concern. We at The Democrat may agree or disagree with the points our readers are raising, but we defend their democratic right to speak out. Unlike West Dunbartonshire Council who think it is up to them to decide what people’s opinions are allowed to be expressed in public.