XL Bully sanctuary's license unanimously rejected by Angus Council for second time

Scotland’s first XL Bully sanctuary has had its application for a licence to operate faces unanimously rejected again.

The bid to host up to 31 bulldog-breed dogs at the Happas Canine Centre near Forfar began last year.

It was Kerryanne Shaw’s idea, and she moved to Angus from Glasgow after raising more than £20,000 for the project.

Ms Shaw is the chairperson of charity All Bullie Charity Rescue.

However, a decision on the sanctuary’s licences was deferred earlier this month after Ms Shaw’s lawyer could not attend.

The council debated the future of the sanctuary at a civil licencing committee on Thursday.

A damning inspection report from Angus Council’s animal welfare inspector Coreen Hill previously warned she did not believe Ms Shaw could safely manage up to 25 dogs at the facility.

Although the animals’ health was deemed to be “good”, the report noted that some of the dogs had “serious kennel guarding issues” and walls had been eaten due to stress.

One XL Bully had been kept at the property for more than 30 days, breaching the law in a case highlighted as a police matter.

The council inspector asked about another dog which was kept in isolation, however, the answer provided was deemed to highlight “further concerns regarding the lack of knowledge and understanding required to satisfactorily run the premises”.

Other issues raised include a lack of space if foster dogs were to return, out-of-date medication, a lack of toys or grooming tools, and significant gaps in record keeping.

The inspector concluded that Happas Canine Centre was not suitable for license and that it was unlikely that it would produce good records in the future.

At the time, Ms Shaw labelled the report as misleading, saying the centre was in a state of disrepair when she took over.

A second inspection has since been carried out and has once again recommended that councillors refuse the bid.

Kerryanne Shaw raised £20,000 to open up a sanctuary for XL Bullies in Scotland following the UK Government's decision to ban the breed, with the Scottish Government following suit. — Kerryanne Shaw raised £20,000 to open up a sanctuary for XL Bullies in Scotland following the UK Government’s decision to ban the breed, with the Scottish Government following suit. STV News

In her report, inspector Ms Hill said: “70 days have passed since the previous inspection, and only minor improvements noted.

“The applicant does not fully understand the conditions that an animal welfare establishment must comply with to meet current Scottish Government guidelines.

“(Ms Shaw) has not demonstrated her ability to maintain the premises in such a manner to meet the licence conditions.”

On behalf of Ms Shaw, her lawyer, Jacob Cohen, said issues raised in the two previous reports, including a few small hazards, had been addressed.

Efforts have been made to repair the larger exercise area, and smaller renovations have been carried out within the kennel building.

Ms Shaw claims to have addressed issues raised regarding the storage and management of medication.

Procedural and protocol processes have been tightened up. The fire brigade have been consulted regarding action plans.

Two new volunteers have begun their induction in response to the staffing issue raised.

Mr Cohen stated: “I would stress in summing up the underlying importance this licence application represents to the dogs and the welfare of the dogs themselves, which never at any point has been raised as a concern in either report from Miss Hill.

“There’s a comfort that Ms Shaw is effective at managing the day-to-day welfare of these dogs and they’ve always been in a healthy condition.

“Without this license being put in place those dogs are then put at significant risk where ultimately all of them will have to be put to sleep because there remains no other alternative in law.”

However, councillors were quick to point out that despite running the facilities for seven months, and having 70 days between inspections, very little significant progress had been made at the facility

Councillor Lloyd Melville said: “I’m not content to write a blank cheque on this especially when our environmental health team are strongly objecting and sticking to the grounds in their report.

“I am afraid I cannot support this because after, which we have heard, seven months of owning the site, one inspection, another 70 days and another inspection.

“If, after all of that, conditions haven’t been met, then I personally can’t see them being met anytime soon.

“We have a legal and regulatory responsibility to ensure all premises are managed effectively and in-keeping with the law and I will support the professional judgement of our environmental health team.

“So I will not be supporting this.”

The committee unanimously decided to reject the Happas Canine Centre’s license application.