Dog Control Notices and Voluntary Dog Control Notices Statistics for 2022 and 2023: FOI release

Information requested

Please provide the following information, separately for the years 2022 and 2023 (up to November 2023):

For the Year 2022:
(1) The number of Dog Control Notices (DCNs) issued for dogs deemed to be "out of control". If available, include data on Voluntary Dog Control Notices (VDCNs) issued within this period.
(2) A breakdown of the number of DCNs and VDCNs issued for dogs which were "out of control", categorised by breed.

For the Year 2023 (January to November):
(3) The number of Dog Control Notices (DCNs) issued for dogs deemed to be "out of control". If available, include data on Voluntary Dog Control Notices (VDCNs) issued within this period.
(4) A breakdown of the number of DCNs and VDCNs issued for dogs which were "out of control", categorised by breed.

Response

I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested.

The system of Dog Control Notices (DCNs) is operated by local authorities. A DCN can be issued for any dog that is deemed to be out of control, as defined within the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010.

Information requested on what breeds of dog have most often been the subject of DCNs is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. However, the Scottish Government has helped with the creation of the Scottish Dog Control Notice Database. This national database went live in February 2022 and brings together the records of all local authorities into a centralised database, that is accessible by local authorities and Police Scotland. The national database was created and is managed by the Improvement Service.

Using the database, the Improvement Service has therefore provided the following information.

The number of Dog Control Notices (DCNs) issued for dogs in 2022 is 212.

The number of DCNs issued for dogs in 2023 (January to November) is 227.

The requested statistics on the number of number of DCNs issued in 2022 and 2023 (January to November), categorised by breed, are attached as an Annex to this letter.

Please note that the Scottish Government does not recognise the term Voluntary Dog Control Notice (VDCN). No such VDCN exists in Scotland under the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010. If you are able to provide any additional information as to what is meant by a VDCN, we would be happy to consider further.

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FOI 202300387664 - Information Released - Annex A

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