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Homes sought for XL bully dogs before law changes
Duchess, a three year-old XL bully, is among the dogs looking for a new home.
It will become illegal to rehome an XL bully in Scotland from 23 February.

The Scottish SPCA is urgently seeking new owners for four XL bully type dogs in its care before it becomes illegal to rehome them.

Two of the dogs in the charity’s care, Duchess and Praline, have been assessed as meeting the physical conformation standards of an XL bully. Paddington and Lex are still waiting to be fully assessed, but are believed to meet the criteria.

All four of the dogs have been microchipped, neutered and undergone health checks and behavioural assessments.

Jennie Macdonald, the charity’s head of rehoming, fostering and community engagement, said: “The process of ensuring they are ready for rehoming has been ongoing for some months while the situation in Scotland has been unclear.”

Although a ban on the breed was first announced by the UK government for England and Wales in September 2023, it wasn’t until January 2024 that the Scottish government said that it would introduce similar legislation.

From 23 February, it will be against the law in Scotland to rehome, breed, sell, exchange, gift, advertise, abandon, or allow an XL bully to stray. Owners will also have to follow new rules when their dog is in a public place. From 31 July 2024, it will be illegal to own an XL bully without an exemption certificate.

Claire Haynes, head of animal behaviour at the Scottish SPCA, said: “The new registered owners will be required to obtain a certificate of exemption and to comply with all necessary legal requirements, which will include keeping the dog on a lead and muzzled at all times when out in public, including in a car, and maintaining third party insurance.

“We continue to call for the principle of Deed not Breed to be applied, and for the outdated Dangerous Dogs legislation to be overhauled. Any breed of dog can be potentially out of control and dangerous in the wrong hands.”

Image © Scottish SPCA

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."