A report raises serious concerns about the management of an XL Bully sanctuary in Angus, leading to potential licence refusal by local councillors
Forfar: A welfare expert is saying that the first XL Bully sanctuary in Scotland shouldn’t get a licence. This comes as councillors are set to review the application for kennels near Forfar.
The charity behind the application has been warned that they’ve already broken new laws regarding the banned breed. A harsh inspection report has raised serious doubts about Kerryanne Shaw’s ability to run the facility.
It even mentioned that some dogs were so stressed they had chewed on the walls of the kennels at Happas Canine Centre. Coreen Hill, the animal welfare inspector for Angus Council, is going to tell the licensing committee that she doesn’t think Ms. Shaw can safely manage up to 25 bulldog-type dogs.
Ms. Shaw expressed her disappointment with the welfare report and said she would appeal if the councillors deny the licence. This whole process started nearly a year ago when the plan for the kennels first came to light.
After raising over £20,000 for the project, Ms. Shaw moved from Glasgow to Angus to make this happen. However, she and the kennels owner, Jeremy Barron, claim they’ve faced a “hate campaign” regarding their plans.
The first licence application was submitted back in March 2024, and Angus Council has been guiding Ms. Shaw on what’s needed to secure the animal welfare licence. But now, councillors are being urged to block the application.
During an inspection in November, Ms. Hill found 25 dogs on-site and 12 in foster homes, though it wasn’t clear if all were XL Bullies. While the dogs were in good health and the kennels were clean, there were no heating options for the dogs other than bedding.
There were also several concerning issues noted, like a lack of proper food records, insufficient emergency procedures, and no active vet signed up for the charity. Some dogs had serious behavioral issues, and there were signs of stress, including chewed walls.
Ms. Hill pointed out that one XL Bully had been on the property for over 30 days, which is against the law. She also raised concerns about the applicant’s knowledge of dog care and the overall management of the facility.
Ms. Shaw, however, felt the inspection went well and is disappointed by the report. She mentioned that if the licence is rejected, they will appeal. The laws around XL Bullies in Scotland changed last year, requiring owners to have an exemption certificate to keep their dogs.
