Check out this fantastic online magazine Animal People, Inc. publishing animal related news and views from across the globe.
Piece by Scotland for Animals HERE
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Live export conditions; Scottish Government needs to act now.
We were at the Scottish Government offices at Saughton House today, protesting the signing off of live export journeys in unacceptable conditions.
Scotland for Animals member Kay Hamilton, Dowager Duchess of Hamilton, requested to speak to Government Chief Veterinary officer Sheila Voas, and Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate’s Phil Burns to discuss issues.
A government official has agreed that a meeting will now be arranged.
New welfare proposals don’t go anywhere near far enough
The Scottish Government has this morning announced it’s Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Bill.
Assurances that Scotland’s inadequate and ineffective animal welfare legislation would be properly strengthened have not been honoured.
Scotland for Animals believes that the Bill is an opportunity to secure real protection for animals, but in it’s current form is grossly deficient.
Animal abuse must now be recognised in law as a crime against society, and procedures of reporting, investigation, prosecution and penalty must reflect this.
Throughout the progress of this Bill we ask that you support us in pressing government and MSPs to make changes.
We can’t, and won’t allow them to continue to leave animals vulnerable.
See our plans for a new approach here; https://scotlandforanimals.org/home/tougher-sentencing-for-cruelty/
North Berwick campaigns stall
Thank you to everybody in North Berwick backing our calls for tougher sentencing, and an end to live exports.
Change is coming.
UK death toll, June 2019
87 million, 161 thousand+ animals slaughtered.
216 thousand+ cattle
1 million, 18 thousand+ sheep
827 thousand+ pigs
85 million, 100 thousand+ “poultry” birds
Does not include other species such as deer, goats, horses, “game birds”, aquatic animals or animals exported for killing.
Protest brings racing ban a step closer
Thursday’s protest at parliament was a great display of international solidarity against exploitation and cruelty.
Well done to Say No To Greyhound Racing In Scotland for taking the fight right to the politicians who are allowing it.
More HERE
Article 13 and animals
Sadly, we’re noticing another surge in misinformation regarding EU legislation and animal sentience.
As we’ve previously pointed out Article 13 of the Lisbon Treaty does indeed recognise that animals are sentient beings and states that “full regard” be paid to their welfare.
What politicians and organisations aren’t telling people is there’s a caveat contained in the same Article which effectively gives licence to states to completely disregard this sentience if they so wish.
You can go into any factory farm, research establishment or bullring across the EU and see how much use Article 13 is.
See Scotland for Animals statement from 2017 HERE
2018; Over half a million procedures on animals
Scotland for Animals has obtained separate statistics for scientific procedures carried out on live animals in Scotland in 2018.
The total number recorded; 506, 901.
This is 14.4% of the UK total. Taking population into account, Scottish establishments are again responsible for a disproportionately large number of procedures.
Species involved include;
Mice
Rats
Guinea-pigs
Hamsters
Gerbils
Rabbits
Dogs
Horses
Pigs
Goats
Sheep
Cattle
Monkeys
Chickens
Frogs
Quail
Fish
Scotland for Animals Spokesman John Patrick;
“Again we see Scotland massively involved in experimentation, and the creation of genetically altered animals for so-called research.
Data shows that the “success rate” for practical results deriving from this is lamentable. Any other method with such dismal efficacy would have been abandoned long ago.
We want to see real, scientifically driven research, and for government to actively and openly support this.
Scotland could be, and we believe one day will be, a world leader in proper innovation without the use of animals.
We call on the Scottish Government to request immediate devolution of powers in this area, and to implement current powers to divert funds to research using non-animal models.
If it is really about saving lives this is the only way forward.”
2 weeks to go
See you there.
Edinburgh stall
Met some great people yesterday.
As SfA campaign on our streets and in our communities, we’ve always seen the stark disconnect between our political class, and everybody else, on animal issues.
Don’t let them set the agenda. Let’s pull together and force radical change.