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.
We’ll be in Edinburgh tomorrow (Princes St.) from 1pm.
Come and see us.
In the wake of the Yulin dog meat festival, we’re approaching the annual bloodbath that is Eid al-Adha.
For days animals will be sacrificed, often in the streets, in the name of religion.
We probably don’t even need to tell you that our very own First Minister Sturgeon takes to social media, pledging her “warmest wishes” to those celebrating.
Saying that, what’s equally noteworthy is who doesn’t mention it. It’s intriguing how some campaigners, many of whom rightly publicise murderous events like the aforementioned Yulin, are so eerily silent about this organised cruelty.
When abuse is related to “culture” or religion, there’s a whiff of selective outrage.
In 2014 Egyptian writer Fatima Naoot put up a post on Facebook. She said of Eid al-Adha that;
“Millions of innocent creatures will be driven to the most horrible massacre committed by humans for ten-and-half centuries. A massacre which is repeated every year because of the nightmare of a righteous man about his good son.”
She was arrested, convicted and handed 3 years in jail for “contempt of religion”.
Fatima Naoot bravely stood her ground, and had her time reduced and suspended on appeal.
Scotland for Animals has consistently and openly condemned this mass slaughter. This year we condemn it again, and we stand shoulder to shoulder with the many Muslims who oppose it.
Animal groups and campaigners need to remember that wherever animals are brutalised we need to act.
To turn a blind eye to atrocities because you feel speaking out wouldn’t be “politically acceptable” is a betrayal of victims.
And Ms Naoot? Anybody who, on facing a 3 year stretch for defending animals, says “I’m not sad about the sentencing as I don’t care about going to jail.” should have all the solidarity we can provide.
88 million, 795 thousand+ animals slaughtered.
236 thousand+ cattle
1 million, 123 thousand+ sheep
936 thousand+ pigs
86 million, 500 thousand+ “poultry” birds
Does not include other species such as deer, goats, horses, “game birds”, aquatic animals or animals exported for killing.
In Edinburgh yesterday with layla and SfA Patron Kay Hamilton, Dowager Duchess of Hamilton.
With political developments unfolding it’s vital that you join with us in holding lawmakers’ feet to the fire.
We’re winning for animals, with your help we’ll secure the rights and protection they badly need.
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