Latest news with #ScottishAnimalWelfareCommission
Daily Record
06-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Electric shock collars for dogs in Scotland could finally be banned as new consultation launched
EXCLUSIVE: A potential ban in Scotland was first considered almost 20 years ago but they currently remain legal. A ban on remote-controlled shock collars for dogs is being considered by the Scottish Government despite an official review stating the evidence against them is inconclusive. The devices - which can be bought online for as little as £50 - are used to train pets by delivering an electronic pulse which can be administered by their owners through a handset. The use of such collars has long been a subject of controversy with some organisations claiming they cause pain and distress to dogs and that their use could not be justified. A potential ban in Scotland was first considered almost 20 years ago but they currently remain legal. An official review of the Animals and Wildlife (Scotland) Act 2020 has now concluded a new consultation should take place. After considering evidence gathered over the past 20 years it found there is 'no consensus' within the dog training industry or among dog owners on whether a ban was needed. Opinion is also divided among dog breeding organisations, pet training and pet advisory organisations, vets, the police, farmers, and other groups. The review added: 'While there is a risk of misuse of these devices, as there is with many other training tools, the scientific evidence does not indicate that static pulse collars are inherently harmful to all dogs, and there is no evidence to suggest that they are more harmful than other aversive training devices in common use." But it concluded that a consultation on a ban should still take place, given that 10 years has passed since the previous one. It also highlighted a 2023 report by the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission, which concluded that on balance, shock collars should be banned. Holly Conway, head of public affairs at The Kennel Club, said she was strongly in favour of a ban. "While government guidance condemns their usage, an outright ban has been recommended by the independent Scottish Animal Welfare Commission and is supported by the welfare, veterinary and positive dog training sector,' she told the 1919 current affairs magazine. "Evidence has shown time and again that they are outdated and unnecessary devices and so we urge the Scottish Government to ban them as a priority.' A spokesperson for the National Farmers Union (NFU) in Scotland said any ban would make it more difficult to train working dogs. "NFU Scotland recognises the need to safeguard animal welfare and supports proportionate, evidence-based regulation,' they said. "However, we would urge the Scottish Government to engage with the farming and rural community before introducing any ban on static pulse collars. "For many hill and upland farms, working dogs are essential tools for managing livestock safely and efficiently across difficult terrain. "In these contexts, remote training collars – used responsibly by trained handlers – can offer a humane and effective way of reinforcing critical commands at distance, reducing the risk of livestock stress or injury." A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'As part of our review of the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) Act 2020, we considered whether or not further legal provisions are required on the use of collars that use a static pulse on animals. "To date, the only type of device recommended for a ban by the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission is remote-controlled static pulse training collars, which they describe as e-collars. On this basis, we have committed to consulting on a potential ban of these specific devices."
BBC News
01-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Monkey addicted to marshmallows saved from exotic pet trade
Charities have warned of a growing trade in wild animals across Scotland after a monkey was discovered in a bird cage in East Lothian with a marshmallow are calling on the Scottish government to introduce a permitted list of animals that can be legally kept as the Scottish SPCA and Born Free say there are currently very few restrictions, which has led to many creatures suffering in unsuitable young marmoset monkey - called Steve - was taken in by the Scottish SPCA after neighbours spotted him in a living room window in March. The charity said the four-year-old monkey was underweight and "stressed out" from constant had developed an addiction to sugary marshmallows after being repeatedly fed them as a six weeks in the charity's care, Steve made a full recovery and was moved to a permanent home in a monkey sanctuary in England. 'Growing trend' Gilly Mendes Ferreira, the Scottish SPCA's strategic communications director, said people were unaware of the scale of wild animal keeping in Scotland."It's a growing and worrying trend," she said. "Animals like Steve being bought and sold as novelty pets, often on impulse, with little understanding of the complex care they require."She added: "Marmosets are highly intelligent, social primates that need space, stimulation, and the companionship of their own kind."No domestic setting - no matter how well-meaning - can truly meet those needs. "The Scottish government said it was committed to the highest standards of animal welfare and understood public health and conservation concerns around the keeping of exotic by the animal charities for their new Don't Pet Me campaign suggested requests from children may persuade people to acquire novelty pets. External influences like social media, films and games such as Pokémon and Minecraft have also been linked to the trade of wild animals. Researchers from the charities found that over a 16-week period, creatures from more than 300 species were advertised for sale in said the trade was an international business with some animals transported by couriers in inappropriate containers - sometimes without any indication a live animal is inside.A Scottish government spokesperson said: "We welcome the work of groups in dealing with the welfare problems caused by irresponsible owners and the campaign for raising awareness of this important issue."The Scottish Animal Welfare Commission has explored the issues surrounding the keeping of exotic pets and we will continue to consider the steps that could be taken in this area."
Reuters
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Fact Check: Scottish wildlife report did not recommend outright cat ban
A report by Scotland's advisory body for animal welfare, which contains a range of recommendations for responsible ownership of cats, has been misrepresented online as evidence of the Scottish government considering an outright ban on keeping cats as pets. The Scottish Animal Welfare Commission (SAWC), a group of experts appointed by the government, opens new tab to advise on wildlife and companion animal protections, published its independent report, opens new tab on the welfare of domestic cats in January. The SAWC report makes multiple recommendations to the government, such as mandatory chipping and registration of owned cats, but there is no recommendation to ban them outright. One section on fertility and reproductive activity lays out a range of options from 'do nothing' to containment of cats in vulnerable areas, where wildlife is more at risk, with one suggestion that new housing developments could introduce rules against cats being kept in conservation-sensitive sites. However, the SAWC's recommendation based upon the options listed is for Scotland's natural heritage agency NatureScot to commission a report on the effects of cat containment on wildlife, a definition of vulnerable areas, and possible restrictions on the introduction of cats to households in such areas. 'It did not suggest banning cat ownership,' a SAWC spokesperson said to Reuters. 'The SAWC report offered various recommendations for responsible cat ownership, which mostly focused on the welfare of cats themselves (such as microchipping, neutering, vaccination etc), although we did also consider the wider impacts of cats on other species,' they added. A Scottish Government spokesperson said to Reuters: 'Banning cats is not a recommendation of the report and we will, under no circumstances, be banning cats.' VERDICT Misleading. The report does not recommend a ban on cat ownership in Scotland. In one section about fertility and reproductive activity, the report lists multiple options for action – beginning with Option 1, to 'do nothing' - and includes one suggestion that housing developments in conservation-sensitive areas restrict the introduction of cats to these areas. The SAWC ultimately recommended more research and another report.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Scotland has 'no intention' to ban cats, despite online rumors
Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Scotland's first minister reassured the public that the country had no plans to ban pet cats after a report sparked rumors online. A report by the independent Scottish Animal Welfare Commission contained numerous proposals for curbing the problem of domestic cats killing about 27 million birds across Britain each year. The proposals included vaccinations and neutering, but the most controversial online was the suggestion that cat ownership be limited in certain areas that are home to endangered species of birds. Rumors circulated online that Scotland was planning to ban pet cats, leading Scottish First Minister John Swinney to clarify there were no such plans. "Let me just clear this up today. The government's not going to be banning cats or restricting cats. We have no intention of doing so and we'll not be doing it," Swinney told Bauer Radio.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Relax, Whiskers. Scotland is not banning cats
Cat lovers in Scotland can breathe a collective sigh of relief. The Scottish government will not be banning felines in the country home to an estimated 840,000 pet cats. First Minister John Swinney issued a statement after a report issued on January 27 by the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission said that cats were a threat to the country's wildlife. The commission suggested measures to reduce their damage–including restrictions on ownership–were interpreted by some as an all out-ban on cats and rumors quickly spread online. 'There's a report being produced by an external organization, which has come into the government for consideration,' Swinney said via radio. 'Let me just clear this up today. The government's not going to be banning cats or restricting cats. We have no intention of doing so and we'll not be doing it.' Outdoor cats can be destructive to the environment by killing native bird species and smaller mammals like squirrels and mice and can be considered an invasive species. They can also spread diseases including rabies and parasitic infections. Cats are the primary hosts of the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Most become infected by accidentally ingesting the parasite through contact with cat feces. The majority of people who become infected with Toxoplasma gondii do not experience symptoms, but severe infection can cause damage to the brain, eyes, and other organs. In 2022, Poland officially listed domestic cats as an 'invasive alien species,' due to their environmental impacts. Cats are believed to have caused the most destruction in Australia than any other continent, where they are estimated to have driven 27 native animals to extinction since colonization began in 1788. However, some countries including Italy, Austria, and Japan have laws on the books that protect cats, particularly feral cat colonies. The United States is home to an estimated 76.5 million cats, with several households owning more than one. Rules regarding pet ownership, vaccination, and spaying/neutering vary by state, with Rhode Island being the only state that requires cat licensing. In their report, the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission said cats annually kill at least 27 million birds and other animals throughout the United Kingdom. It advised that the government consider keeping domestic cats on leashes or indoors as one way to protect endangered species including Scottish wildcats. Some of the various 'cat containment' measures were listed as 'restrictions on introducing cats to households in vulnerable areas.' [ Related: Why do cats make biscuits? ] Cats Protection, the largest cat charity in the UK responded to the containment measures stressing simple solutions like keeping cats indoors at dawn and dusk to help balance the needs of both wild animals and domestic cats. 'Scotland is a nation of cat lovers,' Alice Palombo, Cats Protection's advocacy and government relations officer for Scotland, told the Associated Press. 'Cats are great pets for all sorts of reasons, whether it's providing companionship for elderly people or those living alone, comfort for people with health conditions or helping children learn important lessons in caring for others,' she said. 'We believe everyone who is able to care for a cat should be able to enjoy these benefits.' According to the College of Natural Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, cat owners can lessen the impacts an outdoor cat can have on the environment, by training their felines to walk on a leash. They also suggest an enclosed 'catio' spaced outside with plenty of toys and structures to give the cats exercise, play, stimulation, fresh air, and sun.
