Latest news with #AnimalHealthandWelfare(Scotland)Act2006
Sunday Post
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Sunday Post
Anglers fear anti-cruelty laws will be extended to include fishing
Get a weekly round-up of stories from The Sunday Post: Thank you for signing up to our Sunday Post newsletter. Something went wrong - please try again later. Sign Up Anglers in Scotland fear their sport may be criminalised after Scottish Government animal welfare experts recommended anti-cruelty laws be extended to include fishing. The Scottish Animal Welfare Commission (SAWC), an independent body that advises ministers, has published a report arguing fish are sentient beings and deserve the same legal protection as other creatures such as sheep, cattle, cats and dogs. Among its recommendations is amending regulations to cover 'actions that occur in the normal course of fishing'. Such a move could outlaw many aspects of angling such as hooking a fish and removing it from the water. In the report, the SAWC singles out the practice of 'catch-and-release' as particularly harmful to fish – even though it is a key part of coarse fishing and is actively encouraged on many Scottish rivers as the best way to preserve salmon stocks. Fishermen have reacted with fury at the prospect of such measures. Kirk Norbury, of Country Sport Scotland, said: 'Anglers could be exposed to legal action for carrying out normal and accepted fishing practices such as casting, landing, briefly handling fish, using a net, and releasing them safely. These actions are done with care and in line with high welfare standards, especially in catch-and-release angling.' He added: 'Further restrictions on fishing would risk damaging rural communities and local businesses that rely on visiting anglers. This potential change in the law would cause significant damage to the very efforts of the people who do the most to protect our rivers and fish stocks.' In February, the SAWC was at the centre of an international outcry after it suggested banning cat ownership in some parts of the country in a bid to protect small mammals and birds. First Minister John Swinney was later forced to deny the SNP government was planning to ban pet cats. In its latest report the SAWC states: 'Given that fish are sentient, their welfare needs should receive the same consideration in the formulation and implementation of policy as those of terrestrial vertebrate species.' The main law protecting animals north of the border is the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006. However, activities that occur in 'the normal course of fishing' are exempt. According to the SAWC, this means fish can be subjected to treatment which would be considered cruel if it involved other animals such as pets or livestock. The report states: 'Some of those acts would be illegal if committed against other protected animals in comparable circumstances.' In particular it highlights the practice of 'catch-and-release' which, it states, 'leads to the injuring of sentient animals, a significant proportion of whom may die following the experience'. To address this, the report calls for changes in guidance for fishermen, saying: 'Catch-and-release practices in game, coarse and sea angling should be given further consideration by the sports' governing bodies and associations, in consultation with fish welfare experts.' Significantly, it also recommends ministers change the law, stating that 'the exclusion under Section 47(b) of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 relating to acts carried out in the 'normal course of fishing' should be reviewed in the light of the current scientific evidence of fish sentience'. Last night the Scottish Government said it had no immediate plans to change the law regarding angling, but would consider the SAWC's report 'in due course', adding: 'Fish farming, sea fisheries and angling are all cornerstones of Scottish national and local economies.' Tory rural affairs and fishing spokesperson Tim Eagle said: 'A heavy-handed approach from this SNP-backed quango is not the way to go about things. 'Instead of announcing proposals like this out the blue, these bureaucrats should be engaging with anglers and recognising its importance to Scotland's economy.'
The Courier
15-05-2025
- The Courier
Pet ban for neglectful Fife owner after underfed bulldog put to sleep
A Glenrothes man's bulldog had to be put to sleep after police found it malnourished, infected and shut away alone in a filthy bedroom. Steven Wolohan admitted causing the dog called Hugo unnecessary suffering at his home in Dunbeath Drive. A police officer carrying out a welfare check alerted the Scottish SPCA after finding the 27-year-old's pet in a room strewn with faeces. Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court heard that Wolohan's home had been inspected by the animal welfare charity about a year earlier. Wolohan appeared in the dock to admit a charge under Section 19 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006. The offender, who according to his lawyer 'wasn't keeping on top of his own affairs,' was spared jail, but banned from keeping animals for five years. Prosecutor Christine Allan said a SSPCA inspector received an anonymous call on June 17, 2022. The caller reported a dog in poor condition which was often left alone for long periods and never walked. Wolohan was reluctant to let the inspector inside his home, but agreed to bring seven-year-old Hugo to the door. The dog was in good condition but had an ear issue which Wolohan was advised to have treated by a vet. When the inspector returned 11 days later, Wolohan revealed he hadn't taken Hugo to a vet as he had to pay for dog food instead. He was given a large bag of dog food by the inspector but subsequently stopped responding to calls and cards. More than a year later, the charity was again asked to attend at Wolohan's home – this time by a police officer carrying out a welfare check. The PC reported that on August 4 in 2023, Hugo was found shut away in a bedroom in poor condition and was in a home full of mouldy faeces. The kitchen was dirty with rubbish and appliances strewn around the floor, the hallway had various items rolled up and in the living room there were multiple piles of faeces, including diarrhoea. The property smelled of urine and faeces. Hugo was found lying on a dirty bed in an upstairs bedroom with rubbish and beer cans on the floor. He was removed from the property while police continued to search for Wolohan. Hugo was taken to St Clair Veterinary Practice in Kirkcaldy and assessed by Dr Melanie Tardif-Faessel. She found that although Hugo should have weighed between 35 and 40kg, he was in fact only 28kg. He scored 2/9 on the Purina scale, his ribs were visible and he'd lost muscle mass. Hugo had sores on his paw pads, mild periodontal disease and dandruff. His ear condition had worsened and it wasn't possible to examine inside with an otoscope due to the discharge of pus and abnormal narrowing. The vet found Hugo's dietary needs hadn't been being met for weeks. He continued to receive treatment at the Scottish SPCA clinic but a decision was taken later that month to euthanise him. At an earlier hearing, Wolohan admitted that between June 17 2022 and August 4 2023, he caused a dog he was responsible for to suffer unnecessarily by an act or omission. He failed to provide the dog with appropriate care and treatment, in particular adequate nutrition whereby the dog lost body weight. He also failed to obtain vet advice or treatment for the dog for a number of health conditions including ulcerated ear canals, body weight loss and loss of muscle mass. Prosecutors previously accepted Wolohan's not guilty plea to a second charge of failing to take reasonable steps in the circumstances to ensure the welfare of the dog. Wolohan's lawyer Martin McGuire said: 'It's fair to say during the course of 2022 and 2023, Mr Wolohan's personal circumstances had deteriorated. 'He wasn't taking care of himself, let alone the dog. 'Mr Wolohan found himself in a situation where he was drinking to excess and there was substance misuse. 'He wasn't maintaining his own affairs. 'He was in a state of depression, he simply wasn't able to progress matters. 'As he understands, the court can impose a period of imprisonment today. The matter does clearly reach the custody threshold.' Sheriff Mark Allan imposed a direct alternative to custody, ordering Wolohan to complete 150 hours of unpaid work over the next year. He also placed Wolohan under supervision for a year and on an 8pm to 6am curfew every night for six months. The sheriff also furnished Wolohan with a pet ban. He said: 'Mr McGuire is absolutely right to acknowledge on your behalf that this offence passes the custody threshold. 'But for the fact that there is available a significant and stringent package of community-based disposals, you would otherwise be going to prison for this offence. 'Because of the severity of the matter before the court, the harm and suffering caused to this animal, you will be disqualified from owning or keeping an animal for a period of five years from today.'
STV News
25-04-2025
- STV News
Woman locked three dogs in 'extremely cramped' cage and left months of faeces in litter box
An Aberdeenshire woman has received a five-year animal ban after keeping her pets in 'appalling' conditions. Demi Crowley pled guilty at Banff Sheriff Court on Wednesday, April 16, to neglecting her three dogs and cat. Police Scotland contacted the Scottish SPCA in May last year after they visited a property and were concerned for the animals' welfare. The three dogs were found all locked into one cage, in 'extremely cramped' conditions, with no access to water or food and 'obviously stressed'. Several months of faeces had built up in the cat's litter box, with the cat locked in the bathroom with what was described as an 'eyewatering' smell. The house was described as in a state of 'disarray', with clothes and rubbish scattered throughout. Crowley also received a community payback order, with supervision for a year, and the pets were seized under the Animal Health and Welfare Act to 'prevent further suffering'. A Scottish SPCA inspector said: 'We attended the same day and police officers confirmed three dogs had been locked in a cage. 'They had removed the dogs from the cage due to extremely cramped conditions, and the dogs were in direct sunlight on a hot day, panting, with no water, and were obviously stressed. 'Upon entering the property, I saw that the living area and kitchen were in a state of disarray, with clothes, rubbish, boxes, and dishes scattered across all surfaces and worktops. 'The cage the dogs had been shut in should only house one medium-sized dog at most, and only be used for short periods, and not left in direct sunlight. 'The three dogs were in reasonable condition. 'The cage was empty on my arrival as police had let the dogs out. However, I observed no water, no bedding or comfort and no food bowls. The cage was dirty and had nothing but the plastic tray at bottom. 'The cat was within the bathroom and on opening the bathroom door, the smell of urine, faeces and ammonia was overwhelming and eye-watering. 'A tabby coloured female small Bengal type cat came over to the door and appeared in good condition although she smelt horrendous indicating she had been there for some time'. 'The litter tray can only be described as disgusting with nothing but solid faeces built up over several months and the cat had resorted to defecating on the floor and surfaces, there were empty food containers and rubbish strewn throughout but no fresh water or food. 'We seized all four animals under Section 32 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 to secure their welfare and prevent further suffering. 'We are pleased Crowley received a five-year ban. The conditions these animals were found in and subjected to were completely unacceptable.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
