XL bully compensation: EIR release

Information requested

• How many owners of XL bullys applied for the £100 to cover the cost of euthanasia/veterinary fees?
• How many owners of XL bullys applied for the £100 compensation for the loss of the animal?

Response

As the information you have requested is ‘environmental information’ for the purposes of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs), we are required to deal with your request under those Regulations. We are applying the exemption at section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA), so that we do not also have to deal with your request under FOISA.

This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption, because there is no public interest in dealing with the same request under two different regimes. This is essentially a technical point and has no material effect on the outcome of your request.

Response to your request

XL Bully owners who have taken the decision to have their dog euthanised were able to claim up to £200 from the Scottish Government:

• £100 to help cover the cost of euthanasia
• £100 for the loss of the dog

As at 6 August 2024, the Scottish Government had received 19 claims for £200 compensation to help cover the cost of euthanasia, and for the loss of the dog.

The Scottish Government has also received one claim for £100 compensation from an individual for the loss of their dog only, with no costs being sought for the euthanisation of their dog.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.