Scotland for Animals welcomes news that Theresa Villiers MP has been appointed DEFRA Secretary.
Ms Villiers has been vocal in her support for a ban on live exports, and has worked hard to bring attention to the suffering involved.
We hope that this appointment will strengthen political resolve to end the trade.
Here we have a prime example of how Scotland’s justice system fails animals completely.
Puppy farm pair caused scores of animals to suffer
One of the characters convicted, Frank James, was convicted of cruelty in 2014.
He was banned from keeping more than two dogs at a time (note, not banned from keeping animals outright) but just ignored this.
The system’s piecemeal and broken. Not only are those responsible for causing suffering overwhelmingly avoiding custodial sentences, they’re just ignoring bans handed down because they know, really, nothing is likely to happen if they do.
Things need to change. That’s why Scotland for Animals is campaigning for a total overhaul of the law when it comes to the rights and safety of animals in our country.
One change we want to see is a comprehensive and effectively monitored animal abusers register.
If this and other instruments were in place, maybe these animals wouldn’t have went through what they did.
We await the sentencing with interest.
Thank you everybody for your support in Glasgow today, and for backing our campaign for tougher sentencing.
So many stories from people who have had to step in themselves to protect animals when our “justice system” has abandoned them.
We’ll have a campaigns stall on Argyle St, Glasgow (opposite M&S) from 12 noon tomorrow.
Scotland for Animals and Say No To Greyhound Racing in Scotland have repeatedly requested action by Police Scotland regarding the criminal abuse of dogs racing at Shawfield Stadium.
We have also asked the MSP for the area and MSPs on the Cross Party Group for Animal Welfare at Holyrood to protect these dogs.
Over the past few days yet another breach of animal welfare legislation has been exposed. This is actually the second time one of the dogs concerned has been discovered to have been drugged.
Through their inaction Police Scotland, and all the MSPs involved, are complicit in this animal abuse.
We will continue to hold them accountable, and get justice for the dogs. Come along to the demo at the Scottish parliament on 12th September, let’s send a clear message their dereliction of duty won’t be tolerated.
See Say No To Greyhound Racing in Scotland’s post here
111 million, 423 thousand+ animals slaughtered.
219 thousand+ cattle
1 million, 196 thousand+ sheep
908 thousand+ pigs
109 million, 100 thousand+ “poultry” birds
Does not include other species such as deer, goats, horses, “game birds”, aquatic animals or animals exported for killing.
SfA stalwart layla was taking a well deserved break in the sun earlier, followed by a good auld chill on her cool mat.
If you come across any animal struggling in the heat, please stop and do anything necessary to help.
We notice there has been a volley of questions at Holyrood on the coat tails of Monday night’s BBC Scotland piece on greyhound racing.
We’ve always been sceptical, to say the least, about the motives behind these parliamentary questions. We certainly don’t believe that they’re fuelled by a burning desire to right a wrong.
The pantomime is usually acted out something like this;
“Parliament understands that the situation regarding the use of (insert species) in (insert circumstances) is unacceptable (insert a few examples)/ To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing about (insert subject)”.
The answer is more often than not along the lines of “The Scottish Government doesn’t give two ….. . Next”
And that’s it. Job done, no hard work, brownie points received. Suffering continues.
Repeat.
We’re going to give these people a nugget of information so no more time’s wasted; Government doesn’t care. If they did you wouldn’t be asking the question.
But we think they already know that.
This showboating is usually deployed by politicians who were in with the bricks. They’ve been there long enough to have made sure something was done before now. If they really wanted to.
We’ll be charitable for a minute. Let’s say, on the other hand, they believe that they’re trying their very best but are genuinely powerless to stop cruelty and abuse in the face of the machinery of state.
If this is the case then they should leave the building pulling it, metaphorically, down behind them, and fight for justice on the ground.
Either that or do the right thing, and move aside for people with a real fight in them.
But again, we’re sceptical.
That 63 grand plus everything else you can get your hands on, and that wee sense of power, is maybe far too appetising for some to let principle get in the way.
There will be (few, mind) politicians in there who deep down want it to end. But taking a back seat to stay in the career game isn’t good enough.
Get on your feet, get them told, and don’t let go until they’re beaten. Both you and the victims will feel the better for it.
Taking into account the almost incomprehensible horror they endure every day the length and breadth of our country animals don’t need patter, they need a revolution.
A better tomorrow can’t be won unless together we resolve to not only remove those responsible for the suffering, but also those in power who enable them.
Photo courtesy of Ayrshire Animal Save
Organised, systemic, criminal animal abuse.
Police Scotland know.
The local MSP/ Government Minister knows.
The GBGB know.
The MSPs in the Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group on Animal Welfare know.
What’s it going to take for the law to be applied, and these dogs to be protected?
