This Thursday at 5:30pm, a campaign coalition of the UK’s leading animal welfare organisations will host a virtual hustings for the 2021 Scottish elections. Strengthening of the regulation and enforcement of welfare standards in the pet trade, a ban on the use of snares and a ban on the use of farrowing crates are expected… Read more
Considering deer
Deer are often portrayed as symbolic of a wild Scotland – the ‘Monarch of the Glen’ proudly surveying his homeland. The implication is that they are thriving and revered. In reality, Scotland’s deer face many challenges. Human activities over centuries have created an unbalanced ecosystem, in which deer have no remaining natural predators. Consequently, the… Read more
New investigation and report reveals salmon suffering on Scotland’s farms
A new joint report, Underwater Cages, Parasites and Dead Fish, from OneKind and Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) and undercover investigation by Compassion in World Farming launched today reveal the true welfare and environmental cost of Scotland’s salmon farming industry. Scotland’s salmon farming industry is one of the top 3 salmon farming countries globally, and… Read more
Bill to ban farrowing crates begins progress through UK Parliament
Yesterday afternoon, David Amess MP introduced the Pig Husbandry (Farrowing) Bill to the UK Parliament, which was subsequently passed to the second stage. This stage is the second reading of the Bill, which allows MPs to debate the main principles of the Bill, before deciding whether the Bill should progress to Committee stage for detailed… Read more
New report highlights the worst snaring incidents in the UK in 2020
Today, we have launched our new report, SnareWatch Annual Report 2020: Case studies of snare use in the UK. The report highlights some of the worst snaring incidents reported to our snare reporting tool, SnareWatch.org, in 2020. Snaring incidents The report includes snaring incidents involving target species, such as foxes, and non-target species, including dogs,… Read more
Shocking new footage reveals horrific suffering at salmon slaughterhouse
Today Animal Equality has released undercover investigative footage of salmon suffering at a slaughterhouse. The salmon are repeatedly clubbed, left to suffocate on the floor, and had their gills cut, or torn, by workers, while still conscious. Animal Equality obtained the footage at a Scottish Salmon Company farm in Arnish, Isle of Lewis. The Scottish… Read more
76% of Scots want to see a ban on the use of snares
Our recent More for Scotland’s Animals YouGov survey revealed that 76% of Scots want to see a ban on the use of snares. We have long-campaigned for a complete ban on the sale, use and manufacture of snares in Scotland. Why? Because they are terrible for animal welfare. Snares cause considerable physical & mental suffering Even when… Read more
Recent poll reveals that Scots want to see better protection for Scotland’s animals
A YouGov poll commissioned by the new election coalition campaign group, More for Scotland’s Animals, has revealed that Scots want to see the Scottish Parliament implement stronger measures to protect Scotland’s animals. So, what exactly do they want to see improved? Companion animals 84% of Scots are in support of strengthening the regulation and enforcement… Read more
20 Reasons to go Vegan in 2021
Are you an animal lover looking to reduce your carbon footprint? Are you against deforestation, habitat destruction, and world hunger? Do you think farmed animals deserve to feel fresh air on their skin, and have the freedom to run and play outside? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, going vegan might be… Read more
End of year highlights: 2020 animal welfare achievements
It’s been a strange and difficult year as, worldwide, we all tried to adapt to the ‘new normal’. We were also concerned that animal welfare may not be top of the priority list as the Scottish Government reacted to the COVID-19 crisis. But while we’ve faced unprecedented challenges for animal welfare, such as the rise… Read more
Meatless Monday: Vegan Cakes Edinburgh
It’s Meatless Monday! As we continue to campaign for a ban on farmed animal cages, live exports, and the salmon farm expansion in Scotland, we’re always thinking about how to promote a more animal-friendly lifestyle that we can all incorporate into our busy lives. On the first Monday of every month, we’re going to collaborate with a Scottish… Read more
Scottish Government licensing of grouse moors
The Scottish Government has announced that it will introduce licensing of grouse moors, during a statement of its response to a commissioned review of grouse moor management. That report, conducted by a team led by Professor Werritty, recommended the licensing of grouse moors after a five year delay, if substantial change did not occur in… Read more
This is why you should boycott live reindeer displays.
Reindeers are beautiful animals native to the Artic Tundra. They are used to the quiet of the wilderness, the open space and the cool temperatures that surround them. So why, in 2020, are they still being penned in small enclosures at garden centres, theme parks and adventure parks? Reindeer are not Christmas props and these… Read more
Winter Warmers
It’s been a rubbish year in many ways, hasn’t it? We know that all the doom, gloom and uncertainty can take its toll on our mental health. Despite the challenges which 2020 has brought us, we have achieved a lot for Scotland’s animals this year. So, we want to keep up our hard work and… Read more
Language Matters: Guest blog by Charlie Moores, War on Wildlife Project
Campaigner and proud member of OneKind, Charlie Moores, explores why the words we use to describe wild animals is hugely important. Several years ago, a colleague and I started a podcast series for Lush called ‘Turning Point’. It had a very simple premise: “What was the one decision or conversation that changed your life forever”…. Read more
The animal welfare terror lurking beneath Scotland’s waters
Below the waves in Scotland’s rocky coastlines, lurks a terrifying animal welfare nightmare. Beneath the waters, more than 38 million animals circle filthy, overcrowded underwater cages, where disease and death are rife. We need to take a stand against this eerie reality for Scotland’s salmon. We take a look at the horrifying animal welfare concerns… Read more
The intensive exploitation of animals may lead to the next global pandemic
On March 11th, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic. The world went into lockdown to try and control the virus and life as we knew it changed overnight. The leading theory is that COVID-19 originated from a wildlife market in China- that is, a market that sells wild animals, alongside other food… Read more
Out of sight, out of mind: Guest blog by Rhona O’Malley
Rhona is a member of the Edinburgh charity Advocates for Rabbit Welfare and is passionate about profiling rabbit welfare needs to give owners the support and information they need. Rhona wishes someone had raised her awareness to the innocent welfare mistakes she used to make and is now on a mission to be that voice… Read more
Meatless Monday: Black Rabbit Edinburgh
It’s Meatless Monday! As we continue to campaign for a ban on farmed animal cages, live exports, and the salmon farm expansion, we’re always thinking about how to promote a more animal-friendly lifestyle that we can all incorporate into our busy lives. On the first Monday of every month, we’re going to collaborate with a Scottish business to share… Read more
Challenges In Pet Animal Welfare Over The Last 40 Years
Retired Veterinary Surgeon and OneKind Animal Welfare Ambassador, Andy Cage, shares his professional experience in the UK vet industry and concerns for pet animal welfare: Challenges in pet animal welfare: The last 40 years Having recently retired as Senior Veterinary Surgeon after 40 years with veterinary charity PDSA I have been reflecting on how pet… Read more
A vet’s role in improving pig welfare: Volunteer Guest Blog
A OneKind volunteer and Veterinary Medicine Student shares their industry experience with us to raise awareness of pig welfare for our autumn appeal. Pig welfare: the problem Our farmed pigs are being let down. Indoor, intensive systems are getting bigger, herd sizes are growing and more pigs are being fitted into smaller spaces. There is… Read more
It’s Time for a Full Live Exports Ban: Guest Blog with Dr Nick Palmer
The Scottish Government has finally bowed to pressure from Compassion in World Farming and stopped live calf exports – now it’s time for a full UK live exports ban. After decades of campaigning, we have a real breakthrough against live exports – and it’s in Scotland. Following a lengthy legal battle with Compassion in World Farming, the… Read more
OneKind manifesto for 2021 Scottish elections
We have just published our manifesto for the 2021 Scottish Parliamentary elections. It outlines the actions we would like the incoming Parliament and Government to take to improve the welfare of Scotland’s animals. It contains 19 specific actions that we are calling for. They vary in form and complexity, but all are guided by a… Read more
Cruelty-free Skincare: Guest Blog with Rebecca Miller
OneKind volunteer and cruelty-free business owner Rebecca Miller recently launched her own vegan skincare company, Temple de Luna. We asked Rebecca to write a guest blog for our autumn appeal about why she never tests on animals, as one of our key requests in our manifesto is for the Government to replace animal testing with… Read more
From Predator To Pet: The Truth Behind The Snake Trade
Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes? Do you remember that bit in Indiana Jones, where he falls into a big booby trap filled with snakes? The world’s greatest adventurer, who bested the Nazis, found King Arthur’s Holy Grail and risked life and limb to save his hat…it was snakes that were his one… Read more
Understanding your companion’s personality
Monkey & Banana… not quite two peas in a pod Having an animal companion at home can help reduce our stress levels, decrease loneliness and make us feel happy. I totally agree with that. Having had cats all of my life, I can confidently say that they have been wonderful companions through some really tough… Read more
Meatless Monday: Harmonium
It’s Meatless Monday! As we continue to campaign for a ban on farmed animal cages, live exports, and the salmon farm expansion, we’re always thinking about how to promote a more animal-friendly lifestyle that we can all incorporate into our busy lives. That’s why we created Meatless Monday! On the first Monday of every month, we collaborate with… Read more
The Hunt: A Fox’s Perspective on Fox Hunting
Think fox hunting is banned? Think again. We’re still waiting for the Scottish Government to close the loopholes in legislation that allow fox hunting to continue. The short story below is just one example of wildlife persecution still occurring in Scotland’s countryside. The Hunt She lies down at the foot of the meadow, her whiskered… Read more
Congratulations to our competition winners!
Earlier this month, we announced our Christmas card competition* open to animal lovers of all ages. We received over 70 entries to our competition, and we loved every single one of them! A huge thank you to all of our talented supporters who submitted their work – it certainly wasn’t an easy task trying to… Read more
Shot beaver found ‘slumped by a ditch’
Warning: Graphic image of shot beaver contained in the article We were horrified to see the disturbing photograph of a shot beaver that had been left by a bank in Perthshire. This graphic image shows the grim reality of our licencing system in Scotland. Last year it was reported that 87 beavers, a fifth of the population, were shot under… Read more
The live export trade: why is it so cruel?
The live export trade is the commercial transport of farmed animals between countries. Usually these animals are exported to be slaughtered in Europe or North Africa, but male calves may also be exported to be “fattened up” in the destination country. The long-distance transport of live animals to Europe is a serious animal welfare problem…. Read more
Guest blog: Fieldcraft and Ethical Wildlife Photography by Craig Jones
Written by professional wildlife photographer and OneKind volunteer, Craig Jones. In a time where there is great pressure on the natural world, we need to step back, see the bigger picture and try not to impact on the subject’s life. For many people, the weapon of choice now is the camera. Use this incorrectly and… Read more
Meatless Monday: Breakfast, Brunch & Lunch
It’s Meatless Monday! As we continue to campaign for a ban on farmed animal cages, live exports, and the salmon farm expansion, we’re always thinking about how to promote a more animal-friendly lifestyle that we can all incorporate into our busy lives. On the first Monday of every month, we’re going to collaborate with a… Read more
How can fox hunting continue after the fox hunting ban?
Did you know that fox hunting continues in Scotland despite the 2002 fox hunting ban? One of OneKind’s proudest moments was back in 2002 when we played a key role in persuading the Scottish Parliament to introduce a law which would ban fox hunting with hounds for sport. The Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act… Read more
Deaths of diseased farmed salmon reach an all time high
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has reported a staggering ten million+ premature farmed salmon deaths in 2019. Not only are these mortality rates higher than any previous documented year (since 2002), but the mortality rates have also risen faster than salmon production over the years. High mortality rates indicate suffering, as deaths are rarely… Read more
A win for Scotland’s mountain hares! Our #HareCare campaign draws to a successful conclusion.
On June 17th, in a landmark decision, MSPs voted to recognise mountain hares as a protected species under the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Bill, and thus will put an end to the mass scale mountain hare killings! We’ve been campaigning tirelessly on our campaign to end mountain hare persecution since 2016,… Read more
A creative celebration of Scotland’s seals!
OneKind has a long history of defending Scotland’s seals from persecution. Just a few weeks ago, we were nearing the final steps of rolling out our campaign to ban seal shooting, when something unexpected happened. The Scottish Government launched amendments to the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Bill to remove the two main grounds… Read more
Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Bill will become law
On Wednesday evening, June 17th, MSPs voted unanimously for the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Bill to become law. This is a big step forward for improving welfare for Scotland’s animals. The main functions of the Bill, which we have previously written about in more detail, are to increase maximum penalties for… Read more
Mountain Hare Culls: The Facts
It’s time to end the mass culling of mountain hares once and for all. On Wednesday 17th June, the government will be reviewing these culls and there is only one acceptable outcome: a complete ban on the slaughter. OneKind has campaigned against these culls for a number of years, having gathered over 22000 petition signatures… Read more
Volunteering: What good is it, really?
“Why should I become a volunteer?,” you ask, as I send you a link to join our volunteers group on Facebook. “What’s really in it for me?” Okay, you might not actually say that last bit (volunteering is, after all, supposed to be an altruistic hobby) but you might be thinking it in your head…. Read more
How OneKind is surviving through Covid
Why OneKind could be considered lucky during this pandemic There is no doubt that Coronavirus has hit the charity sector hard but we don’t yet know the full impact. While there has been an immediate effect on income and there will be long-term repercussions, OneKind is not in the same position that many charities find… Read more
Will crustaceans have their day in the sun? OneKind welcomes progress of Scottish animal welfare Bill
OneKind is delighted that one of the 100 amendments to be debated in the Scottish Parliament next Tuesday reflects our calls to protect cephalopods and decapod crustaceans. #SeaTheirSuffering The Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Bill is set to make further progress at Stage 2 in the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform… Read more
The impact of Covid-19 on the Third Sector
How Covid-19 is impacting charities now… and why YOU matter Blog by OneKind fundraiser, Lauren Covid-19 has had and will continue to have an impact on charities all over the country. Charities are facing their biggest challenge; providing services through this global pandemic; staff coping with the personal challenges while trying to deliver their… Read more
The victims of Scotland’s driven grouse moors
Thousands of animals are killed in Scotland each year as part of a circle of destruction that surrounds driven grouse moors. The driven grouse industry aims to maintain artificially high densities of red grouse to be shot for ‘sport’. Therefore, gamekeepers routinely set cruel traps and snares to target any animals perceived to be a… Read more
“Peregrines should stay in the wild”: OneKind Director Bob’s personal experience of protecting peregrines
Peregrines are a fully protected species under Schedule 1 of The Wildlife and Countryside Act. And so I was dismayed to read an account on Mark Avery’s blog that Natural England had permitted a licence for peregrine chicks to be taken from the wild for falconry purposes. In a post on the 15thof April Natural England… Read more
The world’s long quest for “humane” traps – and a new licence to kill stoats
The publication this month of a new general licence for the trapping of stoats has brought the issue of wildlife persecution back into the spotlight. It serves to remind us – if we needed reminding – of the countless thousands of sentient wild animals killed every year in the name of “pest” or “vermin” control,… Read more
Staying motivated to exercise or train for an event during lockdown
If you’re like me and you’re exercise routine has been completely turned upside down right now because you can’t get out and exercise as often as you would like or because the gym is closed, you’ll be finding lockdown hard. I love exercising and had gotten myself into a brilliant routine; gym classes on particular… Read more
OneKind uncovers fox hunting packs on Scotland’s public land
Late last year, it was brought to our attention that Forestry and Land Scotland, previously the Forestry Commission Scotland, was allowing foot packs onto its land to control foxes using dogs. In November we submitted a Freedom of Information request (FOI) to find out. The communications released under the FOI revealed that it is indeed… Read more
Adoption & Abandonment – COVID19’s impact on rescue homes
Blog by Volunteer Kirsty Leese News of soaring adoption figures from animal shelters have been circulating in the media after the outbreak of Coronavirus. With various shelters having to shut down as a result of the lockdown, people have been rushing to adopt cats, dogs and other animals. While this is great news for the… Read more
The lockdown supermarket challenge
Supermarket sweep The most stressful aspect of daily life during this pandemic for me is food. I really feel for people with allergies and specific dietary requirements when it comes to shopping and cooking. I hope my experience will inspire vegetarians, vegans and meat-eaters alike to try new recipes and ideas and demonstrate that you… Read more
New General Licences effective today: now for the welfare review
OneKind is calling for a comprehensive review of the welfare issues surrounding the trapping and killing of wild birds. Wild birds are protected under UK law but landowners and authorised persons, mainly gamekeepers, are allowed to take or kill certain species such as corvids and pigeons without the need for any specific permissions. These exceptions… Read more
Living and working alone in Lockdown
Blog by OneKind Fundraiser, Lauren Semple I must admit, I’m finding the current situation difficult to handle like most other people are. The sacrifice the NHS and our services are making is undeniable; putting others’ lives before their own and staying at home all the time is making me feel a little useless (although I… Read more
Financial support for pet owners
Blog by OneKind volunteer, Kirsty MacKinnon Many of us face financial difficulties at some point in our lives. The outbreak of COVID-19 has meant financial hardships for many people living across the world as hours are cut back and, in some cases, jobs are lost. On the other hand, key workers are facing strenuous shifts… Read more
UK Parliament debate animal sentience and farmed animal cages
We campaigned as part of coalition of animal welfare organisations backing a parliamentary petition which called on the Government to end the use of cages for UK farmed animals. Since animal welfare is a devolved matter, any UK government legislation would only affect animals in England, but the principle extends right across the UK. We have also… Read more
Cross-party support for strengthening Scotland’s animal welfare legislation
There was broad cross-party support for the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Bill when it was debated in parliament yesterday, which is great news for Scotland’s animals. This Bill currently working its way through parliament which, if it becomes an Act, will strengthen protections for animals by making changes to the Animal… Read more
Are lobsters, crabs and octopuses sentient?
Lobsters are crammed together in barren restaurant tanks while they await their slaughter- likely being boiled alive. Crabs are pre-packaged in clingfilm, slowly suffocating and completely immobilised. Local authorities are powerless to take action as these animals have no legal protection covering their welfare needs. But do these animals, and other decapod crustaceans and cephalopods,… Read more
How to organise a peaceful protest against live Winter reindeer displays
Back in December we discussed our concerns for the use of live reindeer in Christmas displays. Alongside OneKind, The Telegraph and the Echo ran articles highlighting the damaging effects on reindeer when used as live entertainment props. In response, our Stornoway volunteer, Kirsty, gathered her group in the Isle of Lewis to organise a peaceful… Read more
Our 2019 highlights
We can’t quite believe that we’re coming to the end of 2019! With a feature on Channel 4 news, demonstrations, a BBC article quoting our response to Scottish Parliament’s fireworks plans, and the proposal of stronger penalties for animal cruelty to name just a few, it has been a busy year for OneKind! Here’s a selection… Read more
WE WON! Ecclesiastical’s £1000 12 Days of Giving competition
Last week we got in touch with our supporters to ask for their help as financial services company, Ecclesiastical ran a 12 Days of Giving competition. The scheme was designed to provide vital funding to charities by donating £1,000 to 120 organisations over 12 days. To a small charity such as ourselves, £1000 is a… Read more
Cruelty-free Christmas gifts for vegetarians and vegans
Shopping for vegetarian or vegan Christmas presents can prove difficult during the holidays. However, with a little help from OneKind, finding those perfect cruelty-free Christmas gifts for vegetarians and vegans can be not only kinder, but easier too! Read on for top kindhearted gifting tips by our volunteer Grayson Black. Kind Consumables and animal cruelty-free… Read more
Have a (One)kinder, cruelty-free Christmas
Our OneKind volunteer Grayson Black is keen to see animal-friendly celebrations this festive season. We’re delighted to be featuring his guide to having a kinder, cruelty-free Christmas … The holidays can be a joyous, but sometimes strenuous time, especially when trying to navigate ethical consumerism. We at OneKind would like to help you navigate the… Read more
5 reasons to leave salmon off your plate this Christmas
(Sea lice infested salmon) Below the waves in some of Scotland’s most beautiful coastlines, there’s a serious welfare problem playing out on Scotland’s salmon farms. Scotland’s farmed salmon suffer terribly, so here’s five reasons why you should take a stand against this cruelty and leave salmon off your plate this Christmas. High mortality rates Mortality rates on… Read more
OneKind’s guide to traps and snares
We recently launched our campaign to put an end to the killing of wildlife on driven grouse moors and elsewhere in Scotland and you can sign our petition calling for an end to these wildlife killings here. While the public are likely aware of the large-scale shooting of target grouse and mountain hares in the… Read more
The scary truth of Scotland’s caged animals
This Halloween we have a terrifying truth for trick or treaters… Did you know that millions of egg-laying hens and pigs are cruelly confined in cages across Scotland? Millions of laying hens in Scotland will spend their entire lives confined in so-called ‘enrichment’ cages while breeding sows will spend at least a month in a… Read more
Volunteering for hen re-homing in Scotland
We’re so grateful for the time volunteers give to our charity, so it was a pleasure for some of our team to get out and do some volunteering themselves. A couple of weekends ago, our Fundraising Officer (Lauren) and Volunteer Officer (Sarah) joined OneKind’s social media volunteer, Gertie, to help at a hen re-homing in… Read more
Missed opportunity to protect welfare of birds
OneKind has spoken up in defence of persecuted wild birds in response to a Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) consultation on General Licences in Scotland. As a rule, it is illegal to kill any wild birds, but certain groups including farmers and gamekeepers view some species as pests and routinely control them by both non-lethal methods,… Read more
Why fundraising matters
I’ve been a fundraiser for over 13 years and have had to answer many times why fundraising matters. Why do I need to ask people to donate? They will just give, won’t they? It’s not quite as simple as that and I want to share with you why fundraising is crucial to OneKind. The simple… Read more
End the wildlife killings on Scotland’s grouse moors
The management of driven grouse moors is killing Scotland’s wildlife. We want this to end and so we’ve created a petition to the Scottish Parliament, asking them to conduct a full review of the animal welfare impacts of the use of traps and snares on grouse moors and elsewhere in Scotland. Background information We created… Read more
Join our #BanTheCages demo in Edinburgh!
(Image: Viva) We’d love for you to join us at our Edinburgh city centre demonstration to raise awareness of the suffering of farmed chickens and hens in cages. Where ‘The Iron Duke of Wellington’ statue, 2 Princes St (opposite the Balmoral Hotel), in Edinburgh! What OneKind is holding a public demo to raise awareness of… Read more
Animal welfare successes at the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species
Guest blog from Ilaria De Silvestre, Eurogroup For Animals’ Wildlife Programme Leader. OneKind is a member of Eurogroup for Animals. Eurogroup for Animals attended the 18th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in Geneva last month. The conference focused on revising the trade rules for dozens of… Read more
Our Edinburgh & Glasgow volunteer meetings, August 2019
This August we made sure we made time to host both Edinburgh & Glasgow volunteer meetings. Our Edinburgh get-together was held (as usual) in our office, whilst our Glasgow gathering was held in The Flying Duck restaurant and bar. For both meetings we kept it simple, giving everyone an update on campaigns, and plans for… Read more
Our highlights from the Revive grouse moor reform conference
On Saturday the 3rd of August, OneKind came together with other like-minded individuals and organisations to explore how radical reform of grouse moors can change the face of Scotland. A first of its kind, the Revive Coalition conference in Perth brought together speakers from various organisations, MSP’s and members of the public to share their… Read more
Introducing OneKind’s new Campaigns & Press Officer: Eve Massie
You might have heard that we have a new Campaign and Press Officer at OneKind? To welcome Eve Massie to the team, we thought it’d be great to ask her some questions that might help our supporters in getting to know her. Introducing OneKind’s new Campaigns & Press Officer: Eve Massie … Eve joined us… Read more
130,000 Wild Animals Licensed to be Killed in Scotland
Scotland’s public body for natural heritage, Scottish Natural Heritage, has published a list of the worryingly broad range of species and shockingly high number of 130,000 wild animals it has licensed to be killed within the last five years. Species Licensed to be Killed The official figures, released on account of a FOI request by… Read more
Anna’s mission to help Scotland’s animals
Anna shares why supporting OneKind means so much to her… About Anna This is Anna, 10, and her dog Skye. Anna spends a lot of time outdoors and enjoys climbing Munros. Skye and her beloved soft toy fox, Lupin go everywhere with her. Anna cares so much for animals and this is her second event… Read more
OneKind Fife group July meeting overview
Our Fife group host group meetings on a regular basis (usually on a bi-monthly schedule). Last week they caught up with our Events and Volunteer Officer Sarah to discuss plans for Autumn and last-minute pushes on some of our current campaigns. Here’s what we covered: How do we give our Hare campaign one last big… Read more
How many hares is enough?
By Libby Anderson The recent launch of Green MSP Alison Johnstone’s consultation on greater protection for foxes and hares is doubly welcome. Firstly, the proposed new legislation aims to close the legislative loopholes – the now notorious exceptions in the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002 – that have allowed mounted fox hunting to… Read more
How to talk about animal welfare for New Conversations Day
Hi! My name is Kirsty and I’m one of OneKind’s social media and stall volunteers. In celebration of New Conversations Day, I thought I’d share a few tips and tricks with you all; ideas for how to bring up OneKind with your friends, family, and anyone else you may find yourself chatting to. As passionate… Read more
OneKind Volunteer awarded Edinburgh Inspiring Volunteer Award
The Inspiring Volunteer Awards are dedicated to volunteers who give their time, energy and commitment to causes and people around Edinburgh. Now on it’s 13th year, this ceremony recognises volunteers from all walks of life, have a whole range of skills and abilities, and make their impact in a huge variety of ways. We couldn’t… Read more
Our volunteer Edinburgh group meeting, May 2019
With our Fife group now hosting regular meetings, an Edinburgh volunteer meet-up was long overdue. As a result, our new volunteer Vesalina set to work arranging a date for supporters to come together and talk about ways in which they’d like to help us. The gathering was held in our Montrose Terrace office and allowed… Read more
EU elections – what are the Scottish candidates’ commitments to animals?
Let’s set Brexit aside for a moment, if we can … The European Parliament has the power to ensure better welfare for millions of farmed, companion and wild animals across the EU. That’s why the current EU elections will have a major impact on potential improvements for animal welfare in the next five years, and… Read more
Firework legislation must go further to protect animals
“My cat, Monkey is terrified of fireworks. As a cat who likes to go out when it’s dark and quiet, it’s most frustrating when fireworks are set off outwith the usual bonfire night, where I can plan to keep him inside. If he is outside when he hears them, he will run back home and… Read more
5 reasons why snares should be banned
Snares are cruel, primitive and indiscriminate traps that are widely used across Scotland mostly to protect gamebirds from fox predation to benefit the shooting industry. A snare is a simple anchored noose which is positioned on an animal track where an animal will walk into it and become trapped by the neck, abdomen or leg…. Read more
Scottish quest for quality food must include animal welfare
According to the most recent published figures (June 2018), there are 1.76 million cattle (beef and dairy), 6.59 million sheep and 317,000 pigs on farms in Scotland, as well as an estimated 14.5 million poultry birds. There are also 34,400 horses, 1,300 donkeys, 1,900 camelids and 9,700 farmed deer on Scottish farms. Some of these numbers… Read more
Another bad day on a grouse moor
A guest blog by John Nicol Please sign our petition calling on the Scottish Government to conduct a full review of the animal welfare impacts of the use of traps and snares on grouse moors and elsewhere in Scotland. OneKind member and supporter, John Nicol got in touch to tell us about an experience he… Read more
Meet our events volunteers at OneKind
Our events volunteers are such an important part of our volunteer team. These passionate people donate their time to help us talk to the public about who we are, what campaigns we’re working on and how others can get involved. We’ve been sharing our volunteer stories to highlight their dedication to our cause and the… Read more
Where do political parties stand on mountain hare culling?
Last year, OneKind launched a campaign asking our supporters to speak to their MSPs about the indiscriminate and ruthless slaughter of an average of 26,000 mountain hares each year in Scotland. A total of 14,500 emails were sent to MSPs across Scotland asking them to do everything in their power to stop the killing of… Read more
Social Media volunteers at OneKind
We’re contacted every week by people interested in helping us in our mission to end cruelty to Scotland’s animals. Alongside becoming a member with OneKind a lot of our supporters want to help our cause by volunteering in their spare time. We appreciate that not everybody feels comfortable with face-to-face public events and, as a result,… Read more
10 ways you can support OneKind from home
We are so grateful to volunteers who dedicate time and energy to furthering our cause. We know that physical involvement isn’t possible for everyone – so that’s where social media comes in! Here’s 10 ways you can support OneKind from home in the hopes of bringing our campaigns to the attention of a much wider… Read more
5 things you might not know about mountain hare culls
If you watched BBC’s Winterwatch this week you will have seen some beautiful mountain hares picked up on the show’s infrared cameras. What you might not have realised is that we are currently in peak mountain hare culling season in Scotland. Mountain hares are protected by a closed season which runs from 1st March until… Read more
Fellow mortals and what they mean to us
This is the time of year when Scots and non-Scots all round the world pay all kinds of homage to Robert Burns – and OneKind is no exception. Since our earliest days, from our roots as the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Vivisection, through the years as Advocates for Animals and now, as OneKind,… Read more
Meet our volunteers – Edinburgh office volunteer Steph
Our volunteers are the reason for a lot of OneKind’s successes. From signing petitions to helping raise awareness, our volunteer teams are always supporting us – joining the fight to end animal cruelty in Scotland. We want you to meet our volunteers to highlight their passion for our cause and the individual work they do… Read more
Why 2019 should be the year to Rethink Fish
Happy New Year to all our wonderful OneKind supporters! To kick start the year we thought we’d talk to you about why we think 2019 should be the year to Rethink Fish. Even though fish share many similar characteristics with humans – they feel pain, they communicate with each other, work cooperatively and have unique… Read more
What do volunteers do at OneKind?
Hey everyone, I’m Sarah and in 2017 I volunteered as a campaigns intern for OneKind. Supporters often ask ‘what do volunteers do at OneKind?’. OneKind has an amazing bunch of volunteers who do a wide range of things, from helping in the office, to going out and collecting petition signatures. They also represent OneKind at… Read more
The best of OneKind volunteer activity 2018
As we wrap up another year in our fight to end cruelty to Scotland’s animals, we’d like to take a look back at some of our favourite OneKind volunteer activity in 2018 … My Immortal Burns night We kicked the year off in style with our Policy Advisor, Libby, organising a burns themed gala evening…. Read more
Looking back on 2018 – our campaign highlights
It’s almost the end of 2018 and what a year it’s been for OneKind. We held our biggest demonstration yet against fox hunting, released ground-breaking footage of mountain hare culls and launched a new campaign on salmon farming in Scotland, to name but a few of our successes. We also worked very closely with politicians… Read more
Growing concern about the use of live reindeer in Christmas displays in Scotland
The Christmas holiday season is well upon us which means Santa and his reindeer have been making appearances at festive events in parades, shopping centres and garden centres across the country for the past few weeks. We understand that these events can be very popular, but we also think it’s important that we start talking… Read more
Go salmon free this Christmas!
Salmon is often seen as an essential part of the menu at Christmas time, but did you know that there are many meat-free, vegan alternatives that you can have instead? With the launch of our salmon farming campaign this year, we thought we would share with you some alternatives to salmon that you can find… Read more
Why we care about cleaner fish
Here at OneKind we have always promoted the welfare of fish, whether they are wild-caught, farmed or used in the pet trade. Since August this year, we have been campaigning for better fish welfare on salmon farms in Scotland, and earlier this week we furthered our campaign by releasing a new report Cleaner fish welfare… Read more
New report on salmon farming: what have we learned?
Earlier this week, the much-anticipated report by the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Economy and Connectivity (REC) Committee on salmon farming in Scotland, was published. OneKind contributed to this inquiry, urging the Committee to consider the welfare of not only farmed fish, but cleaner fish, and wild animals such as cetaceans and seals. We were therefore pleased… Read more