OneKind animal welfare charity has strongly welcomed Scottish Government plans to commission a research project into the value of empathy training for offenders against animals. Ahead of the debate on the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers)(Scotland) Bill in the Scottish Parliament this afternoon (17 June 2020), rural affairs minister Mairi Gougeon MSP has… Read more
OneKind hails new hare protection
OneKind hails new hare protection OneKind animal protection charity has today (17 June 2020) hailed the Scottish Government’s decision to accept an amendment bringing full protection for mountain hares in Scotland, and thus effectively ending the mass scale mountain hare killings, as “a triumph” for the Scottish Parliament’s hare champions and the willingness of a… 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
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
Ban on seal shooting must be watertight
Ban on seal shooting must be watertight, urges charity OneKind has today (10 June 2020) welcomed moves to ban the killing, injuring and taking of seals in Scotland within the next few months, while condemning a “shocking” upward trend in seal shooting over the last few months. The Scottish Government has lodged amendments to animal… 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
Shocking footage shows pile of rotting animal carcasses set to lure animals into nearby traps
New footage passed through to leading animal welfare campaigns charity, OneKind, reveals snares set near a pile of rotting animal carcasses, apparently set by gamekeepers in Strathnairn, south of Inverness. In order to maximise the number of red grouse and pheasants available for recreational shooting, gamekeepers target foxes. To lure foxes into snares, gamekeepers often… 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
Charity calls on the public to report snare sightings in Scotland
Leading animal welfare campaigns charity, OneKind, is calling on members of the public to report any snares they find while out walking in Scotland. OneKind has long campaigned for a ban on the use, sale and manufacture of the traps, and urges walkers to report snares or snaring incidents to its dedicated snare awareness website,… Read more
Charity welcomes Chris Packham as patron
Leading Scottish animal welfare campaigns charity, OneKind, announces wildlife TV presenter and conservationist, Chris Packham, as its patron. Chris Packham said: “Wildlife is routinely being persecuted in Scotland. Tens of thousands of wild animals are killed each year in Scotland’s countryside with cruel, outdated and indiscriminate traps. It’s time the Scottish Government puts an end… Read more
Licence changes: a step in the right direction but welfare still needs urgent review
Leading Scottish animal campaigns charity OneKind has described changes to wild bird licences announced today as a step in the right direction, but renewed its calls for a comprehensive review of the welfare issues surrounding the trapping and killing of wild birds and animals. Following a consultation in 2019, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has today… 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
OneKind welcomes just one recommendation in the Werritty report
Leading Scottish animal welfare campaigns charity OneKind has welcomed one of the recommendations in the newly-published Werritty Group report that users of traps should be legally required to undertake training, including refresher courses, and attach individual operator identification numbers to their traps. The report makes a number of recommendations for improving the sustainability of grouse moors in… 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
OneKind welcomes the Scottish Government’s consideration of tighter regulations for firework displays
Animal Welfare Charity welcomes the Scottish Government’s consideration of tighter regulations for firework displays. Leading animal welfare campaigning charity welcomes the Scottish Government’s actions to promote the safe and appropriate use of fireworks in Scotland, highlighting animal welfare as a top concern. Today the Scottish Government announced its publication of its Action Plan to promote… 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
OneKind welcomes the proposed significant improvements to animal welfare and wildlife legislation
Leading Scottish animal welfare campaigns charity, OneKind, supports the increased penalties for animal welfare offences, proposed under new legislation announced today, and calls for new programmes to change offenders’ behaviour to be made available. The Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Bill proposes, amongst other improvements, an increase in the maximum prison… Read more
Animal Welfare Commission begins to take shape
OneKind is delighted to welcome today’s announcement of the Chair of Scotland’s first ever independent Animal Welfare Commission. The Commission, which will focus on protecting wild and companion animals while also providing scientific and ethical advice to government will be chaired by Professor Cathy Dwyer, Professor of Animal Behaviour and Welfare at Scotland’s Rural College…. 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
OneKind welcomes Scottish Government’s animal welfare commitments for 2019/20
Leading animal welfare campaigns charity OneKind has welcomed today’s commitment by the Scottish Government to animal welfare in the year ahead. These include further commitments to creating an Animal Welfare Commission, as well as introducing a “Lucy’s Law” for Scotland and increasing the maximum penalties for cruelty to both domestic and wild animals. Pledges in… 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
Calls for greater regulation to end driven grouse shooting
Leading Scottish animal welfare charity OneKind has renewed its calls for an end to driven grouse shooting on the Glorious Twelfth, the first day of the grouse shooting season. Large areas of upland Scotland are used for driven grouse shooting with the land being managed to maximise the number of red grouse available for… 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
Charity renews calls for end to mountain hare culls on first day of the open season
Leading Scottish animal welfare charity, OneKind, has today renewed its calls for urgent action from the Scottish Government to prevent the mass killing of Scotland’s mountain hares. The open season on mountain hares begins today (1st August) and runs until 28 February, during which tens of thousands of mountain hares will be killed by gamekeepers… 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
Grim reality of Scotland’s grouse shooting industry exposed in new film
A new film, narrated by Chris Packham, describes in vivid detail the grim reality associated with grouse shooting. Earlier this year, a male hen harrier was caught in an illegal spring trap set next to its nest site on a grouse moor. The bird was caught by its leg in the trap, yet despite emergency veterinary attention it didn’t survive. However,… 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
“Game-changing” proposals to protect Scotland’s wild foxes and hares
OneKind animal protection charity has hailed as “game-changing” a proposal by Alison Johnstone MSP to introduce a real ban on fox hunting with dogs in Scotland, and to give full protection to wild hares. Alison Johnstone’s proposal for a Protection and Conservation of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Bill (the “fox and hare Bill”) was launched on… 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
Charity calls on walkers in Scotland to report snares
Leading animal campaigns charity OneKind is calling on members of the public to report any snares or snaring incidents they find while out walking in Scotland. OneKind has long-campaigned for a ban on the use, sale and manufacture of the traps, and in 2011 the charity set up SnareWatch, an information-sharing and report facility about… 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
OneKind welcomes consultation on General Licences in Scotland
Leading Scottish animal campaigns charity OneKind has welcomed news that Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is set to launch a consultation on General Licences in Scotland. The 12-week consultation is due to open later this year and will ask stakeholders for their views on how General Licences work in practice, what they should cover and how… 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
OneKind calls for review of General Licences in Scotland
Leading Scottish animal campaigns charity OneKind is calling for a full review of the General Licence system for the killing and taking of certain species of wild birds in Scotland. It follows a legal challenge by the organisation Wild Justice which resulted in Natural England revoking three General Licences for the killing of 16 wild… 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
OneKind is calling for a ban on the use of enriched cages for hens and farrowing crates for sows.
Scotland’s leading animal campaigns charity OneKind is calling on the Scottish Government to ban farm animal cages including enriched cages for egg-laying hens and farrowing crates for sows. The conventional battery cage system was banned in Europe in 2012 and replaced by ‘enriched’ cages. Approximately 2 million hens in Scotland are still being kept in… 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 Government must act now to protect mountain hares
Revive, the coalition for grouse moor reform is calling on the Scottish Government to act to protect Scotland’s iconic mountain hares. Exactly a year ago First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told Parliament during First Minister’s Questions that large-scale culling of mountain hares on grouse moors is “not acceptable”. The open shooting season for hares begins… 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
OneKind welcomes proposals to strengthen animal welfare law
Animal protection charity OneKind has welcomed the publication today (1 February 2019) of Scottish Government proposals to strengthen enforcement measures available under Scotland’s main animal welfare legislation. In particular, OneKind welcomes the Scottish Government’s intention to increase the maximum available penalties for serious offences to a prison sentence of five years, an unlimited fine or… 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
Minister’s commitment to Scotland’s animals welcomed
OneKind animal welfare charity has welcomed many of the proposals in a comprehensive Parliamentary Statement on Animal Welfare today (Wednesday 9 January 2019) by the Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment, Mairi Gougeon MSP. In particular, OneKind welcomes commitments for legislation on fox hunting, the creation of an Animal Welfare Commission and the… 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
Charity calls on Scottish Government to make this year’s Boxing Day and New Year hunts the last
Leading animal campaigns charity OneKind is calling on the Scottish Government to introduce a real fox hunting ban as mounted packs around the UK set off on their Boxing Day and New Year’s Day hunts. Fox hunting was banned in Scotland under the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act in 2002, however loopholes in the… 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 exposes serious welfare concerns surrounding the use of cleaner fish on Scottish salmon farms
Scotland’s animal campaigns charity OneKind has released a new report which highlights the serious animal welfare issues surrounding the use of cleaner fish as a treatment for sea lice on salmon farms in Scotland. Both wild-caught and farmed cleaner fish (mainly lumpsuckers and ballan wrasse) are used by the salmon farming industry in Scotland to… 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
The horrible reality of Scotland’s grouse moors
Last month, OneKind received a report via our SnareWatch website from someone who had found eight snares set to catch animals within 50 yards of each other on a woodland path with the carcasses of four rabbits lying nearby. The aim of the website is to compile evidence of how snares and used and the… Read more
Charity asks, “what’s next?” as new report highlights failings of Scotland’s salmon farming industry
The Scottish Government’s Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee has today (Tuesday 27th November) published a hard-hitting report into the wider impacts of salmon farming. The report Salmon farming in Scotland was commissioned to consider the current state of the salmon farming industry in Scotland, looking at opportunities for future developments and how fish health and… Read more
Where does Lush palm oil come from?
Lush is a fantastic supporter of OneKind’s work. They sell charity pots, tubs of rich ‘n creamy body lotion, the full price of which (minus VAT) is donated to local charities whose ethics align with those endorsed by Lush. Our participation in their charity pot initiative raises crucial money that goes directly towards funding our… Read more
Radical new campaign brings together social, environmental and animal welfare charities to reform Scotland’s grouse moors
Naturalist and broadcaster Chris Packham to launch Revive: The coalition for grouse moor reform A radical new campaign will launch in Edinburgh this week (Tuesday 6th November) bringing together several charities across social, environmental and animal welfare sectors, working together to reform Scotland’s grouse moors. Revive: The coalition to reform Scotland’s grouse moors is a… Read more
Meet OneKind’s new director Bob Elliot
What a privilege to be asked to lead OneKind as the new Director. I am absolutely delighted and proud to have the opportunity to be able to build and develop the excellent work undertaken by former Director Harry Huyton and the team. Thank you to all those supporters, members and colleagues that have made me… Read more
5 key facts we’ve learned from the Scottish fish farm production survey 2017
Every year, the Scottish Government publishes the “Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey”. These reports shed light on things such as the number of active salmon farming sites, the number of fish entering sea-water salmon farms in Scotland, survival rates of salmon throughout the production cycle, and information on cleaner fish. Today the production survey for… Read more
Volunteer Blog – Meet Art for Animals artist Romain Pizzi
In celebration of Scotland’s magnificent wildlife, our annual Art for Animals exhibition is back, taking place later this month in Edinburgh. We have 14 artists who will showcase their creations, each having been motivated to carve, paint and sketch by the animals that make this spectacular country their home. The exhibition aims to inspire a… Read more
Scottish wildlife exhibition returns to improve protection for Scotland’s animals
Leading animal campaigns charity OneKind is putting on an exhibition of Scottish wildlife and animal art to raise money to help end cruelty to Scotland’s animals. After a successful launch last year, Art for Animals returns on the 19-25 October at the Breeze Art Gallery in Edinburgh. The event will celebrate Scotland’s magnificent wildlife while… Read more
Not just salmon: 5 other animals impacted by salmon farming in Scotland
We have talked a lot about the impact that salmon farming has on salmon, but sadly it is not just farmed salmon that are negatively impacted by the salmon farming industry in Scotland. Here are five other animals that can be impacted by salmon farming in Scotland. Seals Scotland is home to grey, and common… Read more
OneKind welcomes decision by P&O Ferries to stop transporting live animals
Animal campaigns charity OneKind has welcomed today’s decision (Tuesday 11th September) by P&O Ferries to stop transporting live animals to Northern Ireland with immediate effect. The statement from P&O Ferries said: “We can confirm that P&O Ferries will cease co-operating with the Scottish Government to transport across the Irish Sea young calves destined for continental Europe… Read more
5 awesome things our volunteers have done for OneKind this summer
We’ve had a really busy summer in terms of volunteer work at OneKind, both in the office and out and about with our growing volunteer groups. Our volunteers are vital in our work to end cruelty to Scotland’s animals, and they really help us get our message out there and build support for our campaigns…. Read more