Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2025

4 Content of code: certificate

(1) This section applies in relation to the transfer of a dog of any age.

(2) Before acquiring the dog, the prospective acquirer is to complete a certificate relating to the matters mentioned in subsection (4) which the prospective acquirer and the prospective supplier are then to sign.

(3) The code of practice must prescribe the form of the certificate.

(4) The certificate must—

(a) require the prospective acquirer to confirm that the prospective acquirer has considered the matters set out in the code of practice,

(b) if provision giving effect to section 3 is included in the code of practice and applies to the transfer of the dog—

(i) require the prospective acquirer to confirm that they have checked with the prospective supplier and believe the dog is at least 8 weeks of age,

(ii) require the prospective supplier to confirm that the dog is at least 8 weeks of age, and

(iii) require the prospective acquirer to confirm that they have complied with section 3(3) and (5),

(c) require the prospective acquirer to confirm that they have received—

(i) the microchip details of the dog,

(ii) any relevant health records relating to the dog, and

(iii) details of the veterinary practice the prospective supplier is registered with,

(d) include the name and address of the prospective acquirer and the prospective supplier, and

(e) include any other matter the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate.

(5) The certificate is to be kept by the acquirer during the period of the acquirer’s ownership of the dog.

(6) The acquirer is to show the certificate to a person who is exercising a relevant power under schedule 1 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, if—

(a) the acquirer is a qualifying person, and

(b) the person exercising the relevant power reasonably requires to see it.

(7) In subsection (6), “relevant power” and “qualifying person” have the meanings given in schedule 1 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.

(8) In this section “microchip” has the meaning given in The Microchipping of Dogs (Scotland) Regulations 2016 (S.S.I. 2016/58).