XL Bully Ban For 'Public Safety

FM acts to stem flow of breed north after Record pressure

- PAUL HUTCHEON

HUMZA Yousaf has finally backed a ban on XL bullies to stop Scotland being a dumping ground for dangerous dogs.

The U-turn came after the Record revealed a dog kennel business near Forfar had been lined up as a sanctuary for the killer breed.

Rishi Sunak last year announced a ban on breeding, selling, and advertising XL bullies south of the Border.

Owners who do not comply will be forced to give up the dogs, which could be destroyed.

The First Minister was accused of dragging his heels by failing to match the ban over the past few months.

He finally caved in after reports in the Record showed a dangerous dog influx from England. He said: "What has become clear, I'm afraid in the last few weeks, is we have seen a flow of XL bully dogs coming to Scotland, a number of people coming to Scotland to bring XL bully dogs here to the country.

"We will give further details to members of the Scottish Parliament through a parliamentary statement if the parliamentary bureau agrees next week.

"We will, in essence, replicate the legislation that is in England and Wales here in Scotland because ultimately, although we do have a very good system of dog control notice schemes, and we do take the approach indeed not to breed, we have to respond to the situation as it currently stands.