This Member's Bill, as introduced, seeks to improve the health and wellbeing of dogs by encouraging responsible ownership and providing for the registration of unlicensed litters.
This is a Member's bill
The Bill became an Act on 19 March 2025
This Bill was passed and is now an Act of the Scottish Parliament.
This is a Member’s Bill, introduced by Christine Grahame MSP. The Bill as introduced aims to improve the health and wellbeing of dogs by:
Under the proposals, the Scottish Government must make and publish a code of practice that should be followed by:
Under the code, potential owners must consider:
The Bill also sets out that the Scottish Government can make a register of unlicensed litters of puppies. This would be to ensure that where litters are not born under a dog breeding licence they are still accounted for. Under this change, it would not be possible for puppies to be sold in Scotland by someone who is not regulated in some way.
The aim of the Bill is to improve the health and welfare of dogs.
The Member’s view is that buying a puppy or dog in a responsible way can make a difference to that animal's welfare. The Member also believes it could change the nature of the puppy trade.
The Bill aims to:
Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Bill as introduced (519KB, pdf) posted 20 June 2023
Explanatory Notes (191KB, pdf) posted 20 June 2023
Policy Memorandum (288KB, pdf) posted 20 June 2023
Financial Memorandum (149KB, pdf) posted 20 June 2023
Delegated Powers Memorandum (135KB, pdf) posted 21 June 2023
Statements on legislative competence (109KB, pdf) posted 20 June 2023
Explanatory Notes (241KB, pdf) posted 20 June 2023
Policy Memorandum (322KB, pdf) posted 20 June 2023
Financial Memorandum (326KB, pdf) posted 20 June 2023
Delegated Powers Memorandum (236KB, pdf) posted 20 June 2023
Statements on legislative competence (168KB, pdf) posted 20 June 2023
All Bills introduced in the Parliament must be accompanied by specific documents. For most Bills, this includes:
Explanatory Notes: this document provides an overview of what the Bill does, plus a more detailed explanation of individual provisions.
Policy Memorandum: this sets out the objectives of the Bill. It also lists any alternatives considered, details of consultations, and an assessment of the effects of the Bill on a range of areas.
Financial Memorandum: this sets out estimates of costs, savings, and any changes to revenues expected to result from the Bill.
Delegated Powers Memorandum: this is needed if a Bill gives powers to make subordinate legislation or allows Scottish Ministers to issue directions, guidance or codes of practice.
Statements on legislative competence: two short statements, one by the Presiding Officer and one by the Member introducing the Bill. “Legislative competence” means the powers the Parliament has to make law.
The Presiding Officer has decided under Rule 9.12 of Standing Orders that a financial resolution is not required for this Bill.
For each Bill, the Presiding Officer must decide if a 'Financial Resolution' is required. The main reasons a Bill would need a Financial Resolution are that:
If a Bill requires a Financial Resolution:
The Scottish Parliament's Information Centre (SPICe) prepares impartial research and analysis to assist ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ in their examination of Bills and other parliamentary business.
The Bill was introduced on 20 June 2023
At Stage 1, the Bill is given to a lead committee. This is usually the committee whose remit most closely relates to the subject of the Bill. The lead committee will consider and report on the Bill. Other committees may also examine the Bill and report to the lead committee. Finally, there is a debate and vote by all ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ on the general principles of the Bill. If the general principles are not agreed to, then the Bill ‘falls’ and can’t become law.
The lead committee for this Bill is the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee.
The lead committee will usually examine the Bill through evidence sessions. This will involve contributions from individuals and organisations, known as 'witnesses', with knowledge of the subject matter. The committee might also discuss the Bill in private sessions.
Views were gathered on the Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Bill by either a questionnaire or a more detailed survey.
Read a summary of responses to the survey (323KB, pdf) posted 31 August 2023
Read a summary of responses to the questionnaire (740KB, pdf) posted 31 August 2023
Letter from the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, Jim Fairlie, 9 May 2024
Letter from Christine Grahame MSP, 6 February 2024
Letter from the Minister for Energy and the Environment, Gillian Martin, 31 October 2023
Letter to the Minister for Energy and the Environment, Gillian Martin, 25 October 2023
Scottish Government memorandum, 15 August 2023
See a full list of Stage 1 correspondence for this committee
The Rural Affairs and Islands Committee published its report on 5 March 2024.
The Committee received the following response to its report:
Letter from the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity (218KB, pdf) posted 10 May 2024
If a Bill is relevant to more than one committee, 'secondary committees' may consider and report on the general principles of the Bill to the lead committee. Some Bills may also be considered by the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee or the Finance and Public Administration Committee.
The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee published its report on 2 November 2023.
Letter from Christine’s Grahame MSP to the Convener, 11 October 2023
Letter to the Member in Charge from the Convener, 28 September 2023
A Stage 1 debate took place on 9 May 2024 to consider and decide on the general principles of the Bill.
See further details of the motion
The Bill ended Stage 1 on 9 May 2024
At Stage 2, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ can propose changes to a Bill. These are called 'amendments'. Any MSP can suggest amendments but only members of the Stage 2 committee can decide on them.
On 4 September 2024, Parliament agreed motion S6M-14306, that consideration of the Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Bill at Stage 2 be completed by 27 September 2024.
Documents with the amendments to be considered and debated at the meeting to be held on 18 September 2024.
Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 2 (366KB, pdf) posted 12 September 2024
Groupings of Amendments for Stage 2 (454KB, pdf) posted 12 September 2024
Read the agenda, papers and minutes for this meeting
Read the Official Report of the meeting
A Stage 2 'Marshalled List' is a list of all the amendments that have been lodged at Stage 2 (or, if the Stage is mid-way through, all those still to be dealt with). They are listed in the order in which they will be called by the convener and then decided on.
A 'Groupings' list shows how the amendments that are listed in the Marshalled List have been grouped together for debate. Each group contains amendments that are related to each other, even if they are at different places in the Marshalled List.
Revised Explanatory Notes (146KB, pdf) posted 16 January 2025
Supplementary Financial Memorandum (122KB, pdf) posted 02 October 2024
Supplementary Delegated Powers Memorandum (150KB, pdf) posted 02 October 2024
Revised Explanatory Notes (264KB, pdf) posted 16 January 2025
Supplementary Financial Memorandum (166KB, pdf) posted 02 October 2024
Supplementary Delegated Powers Memorandum (232KB, pdf) posted 02 October 2024
The Bill ended Stage 2 on 18 September 2024
At Stage 3, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ can propose further amendments (changes) to the Bill. These are debated and decided on in the Debating Chamber. At this stage, all ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ can vote on them. There is then a debate on whether to pass the Bill. If the Bill is not passed, it ‘falls’ and can't become law.
Documents with the amendments considered and debated at the meeting held on 23 January 2025.
Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 3 (206KB, pdf) posted 17 January 2025
Timed Groupings of Amendments for Stage 3 (232KB, pdf) posted 22 January 2025
A Stage 3 'Marshalled List' is a list of all the amendments that have been proposed at Stage 3 and that have been selected by the Presiding Officer. They are listed in the order in which they will be called by the Presiding Officer and then decided on.
A 'Groupings' list shows how the amendments that are listed in the Marshalled List have been grouped together for debate. Each group contains amendments that are related to each other, even if they are at different places in the Marshalled List.
‘Timed Groupings’ are usually produced at Stage 3 and set out how long Parliament expects to spend debating the groups of amendments.
Once ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ have decided on the amendments, they debate whether to pass the Bill.
Result 114 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 15 did not vote Vote Passed
See further details of the motion
The Bill ended Stage 3 on 23 January 2025
If the Bill is passed, it is normally sent for Royal Assent after about 4 weeks. Royal Assent is when the Bill gets formal agreement by the King and becomes an Act of the Scottish Parliament. Some Acts become law straight after Royal Assent. Some only come into force on a later date. Sometimes different bits of the same Act become law on different dates.
The Bill was passed on 23 January 2025 and became an Act on 19 March 2025