Leading animal protection charity OneKind has welcomed renewed calls for a moratorium on the culls of mountain hares in Scotland. OneKind Director Harry Huyton said: “Mountain hare culls and recreational hunting have become routine on many estates in Scotland, and they are unmonitored and unregulated outside of the closed season. As a result, these beautiful animals… Read more
Meet our Members: Gary Crompton
Members are at the heart of OneKind Scotland – without your support, we couldn’t be the strong voice for Scotland’s animals that we are today. We want to share our members’ stories, and highlight their passion and commitment to animal welfare, so we’ll be putting the spotlight on a different member each fortnight. Today, meet… Read more
Say No to Greyhound Racing at Wallyford
Businessman Howard Wallace first put forward his plans to build a greyhound stadium in 2001 and it was approved by East Lothian Council four years later. At the time Mr Wallace also had plans to build houses on the site but was told that could not go ahead until work on the stadium began. So… Read more
Today marks an important step towards a real hunting ban
OneKind has today welcomed the Scottish Government’s announcement of a public consultation on the future of fox hunting in Scotland, branding it an important step towards a real hunting ban. A consultation on improving the protection of wild mammals in Scotland was announced by the Environment Secretary, Roseanna Cunningham today (Friday 6 October). It follows… Read more
OneKind welcomes unanimous vote in support of ban on wild animals in circuses in Scotland
OneKind, Scotland’s animal campaigns charity, has welcomed today’s Stage 1 vote in support of the General Principles of the Bill, which will see the use of wild animals in travelling circuses banned in Scotland. The Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (Scotland) Bill was proposed by Cabinet Secretary Roseanna Cunningham MSP, who said in her opening… Read more
OneKind calls on the Scottish Parliament to pass a strong Circus Bill for Scotland
Leading animal protection charity OneKind has called on the Scottish Parliament to pass a strong circus bill that will end the use of wild animals in travelling circuses in Scotland. The Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (Scotland) Bill is currently making its way through the Scottish Parliament. The Stage 1 debate on the Bill is… Read more
The circus debate: let’s get back to basics
Every summer, right up to 2011, a traditional travelling circus would make a two-month tour of southern and central Scotland. Bobby Roberts’ Super Circus always brought with it their aged, arthritic elephant Anne, taken from the wild in Sri Lanka and used for entertainment for over half a century. By 2011, she had no elephant… Read more
Why we need tougher sentencing and prevention programmes for animal cruelty
Pippa the cat was two years old. She lost her life one night in 2015, when her owner restrained, punched and slapped her, then bit her head and face before inflicting fatal injuries by slamming her against a wall. The whole incident was recorded by the owner’s terrified partner, and in due course it appeared… Read more
Meet a Member | Elaine Whitlaw
Members are at the heart of OneKind Scotland – without your support, we couldn’t be the strong voice for Scotland’s animals that we are today. We want to share our members’ stories, and highlight their passion and commitment to animal welfare, so we’ll be putting the spotlight on a different member each fortnight. Today, meet… Read more
OneKind presents petition calling for greater protection of mountain hares to the Scottish Parliament
Animal protection charity OneKind has today (Thursday 14th September) handed over a 11,000-strong petition and appeared before the Scottish Parliament’s Public Petitions Committee in a bid end the culls of mountain hares in Scotland. The OneKind petition calls for protection of mountain hare on both animal welfare and conservation grounds. It recommends a three-year moratorium… Read more
Mountain hare killing scrutinised in the Scottish Parliament
Today I went to the Scottish Parliament Petitions Committee to give evidence on our petition for greater protection for the mountain hare. Here’s my short video update: It was a great privilege to hand in the petition and represent the 11,000 or so of you who signed it. It was also extremely worthwhile. It… Read more
Are the Scottish Government turning over a new leaf on animal protection?
The Scottish Government’s track record on animal protection since the Holyrood elections two years ago has been mixed at best. It started with confusion when the new Government was formed and animal welfare appeared to be omitted from the list of Ministerial responsibilities. It took a Parliamentary Question to establish where responsibilities lay. Since then,… Read more
OneKind responds to the news that Edinburgh Zoo’s giant panda will not be giving birth this year
Animal protection charity OneKind has responded to the news that giant panda Tian Tian will not be giving birth at Edinburgh Zoo this year. It was understood in August that Tian Tian was about to give birth. OneKind Campaigner, Sarah Moyes said: “We hope today’s announcement will mark the end of Edinburgh Zoo’s attempts to… Read more
5 things you might not know about CCTV and slaughterhouses
Do you know what’s happening behind the closed doors of Scotland’s abattoirs? Because we certainly don’t. However, we do know that there are some serious problems. That’s why we launched our CCTV Slaughterhouse campaign calling on the Scottish Government to introduce mandatory CCTV monitoring in all Scottish abattoirs, covering all key areas, that is accessible… Read more
Meet our members | Charlotte Workman
Members are at the heart of OneKind Scotland – without your support, we couldn’t be the strong voice for Scotland’s animals that we are today. We want to share our members’ stories, and highlight their passion and commitment to animal welfare, so we’ll be putting the spotlight on a different member each fortnight. Today, meet… Read more
OneKind welcomes animal welfare commitments in the Scottish Government’s Programme for Scotland
Leading animal protection charity OneKind has welcomed today’s (Thursday 5th September) commitment by the Scottish Government to animal welfare in the year ahead. In the full programme for government 2017/18, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon MSP pledged to increase the maximum sentence for animal cruelty to five years’ imprisonment as well as a package of other… Read more
5 reasons why we shouldn’t be celebrating Edinburgh Zoo’s new panda.
It’s been almost seven years since giant pandas Yang Guang and Tian Tian arrived at Edinburgh Zoo on a 10-year loan from China. Since then, the possibility of a panda cub being born at the Zoo has been one of the biggest news stories in the country with every step of each failed pregnancy attempt… Read more
OneKind responds to news that Edinburgh Zoo’s giant panda is pregnant
Animal protection charity OneKind has criticised Edinburgh Zoo following the news that giant panda Tian Tian is due to give birth any day now. It is understood that the panda is pregnant through artificial insemination. OneKind Campaigner, Sarah Moyes said: “This poor panda cub will never be introduced to the wild and will only ever know… Read more
Scotland must follow suit and introduce mandatory CCTV in all slaughterhouses
Environment Secretary Michael Gove has today announced plans to make CCTV mandatory in all slaughterhouses in England along with other measures that he hopes will “cement UK’s position as a global leader on animal welfare”. This follows shocking revelations of cruelty in slaughterhouses in England following several investigations by Animal Aid. Harry Huyton, OneKind Director,… Read more
OneKind calls for a ban on driven grouse shooting ahead of the Glorious Twelfth.
Leading animal protection charity OneKind wants to see an end to driven grouse shooting as the biggest day in the shooting calendar approaches. The Glorious Twelfth, which falls on the Saturday 12 August, marks the start of the grouse shooting season in Scotland, the north of England and Northern Ireland. Between 15 and 19% of… Read more
Would you feel any different if one of these hares was called Cecil?
Recently, OneKind published our report on mountain hare persecution in Scotland. These indigenous animals are much loved by many, celebrated in myth and literature, and are an important part of the upland ecosystem. However, they are also shot for sport. During our investigation into mountain hare persecution, we discovered that several of the companies which… Read more
Mountain hare persecution in Scotland – reactions to our report
Campaigner Sarah Moyes gives the low-down on the publication of OneKind’s mountain hare report, the reaction, and what you can do to help. [View the story “Mountain hare persecution in Scotland” on Storify]
Are these admissions that mountain hare shooting is wrong?
On Monday we launched our report, Mountain Hare Persecution in Scotland, and exposed the scale of persecution and, in particular, commercial hunting of this iconic native species. Our report lists in an annex 25 companies that offer recreational mountain hare killing services and we pulled out three for special mention. Once this was apparent to… Read more
Mountain hare persecution – how you can help
Tomorrow the open season on mountain hares begins once again. Our report, mountain hare persecution in Scotland, exposes the full extent of persecution, the reasons behind it, and puts forward a number of recommendations to the Scottish Government. We believe that the situation merits urgent action, including: A moratorium on culling and hunting mountain hare… Read more
Scotland’s mountain hare shooting industry exposed in new report
Scotland’s mountain hare shooting industry exposed in new report OneKind, Scotland’s animal campaigns charity, will release a new report on the persecution of mountain hares in Scotland on Monday 31 July, a day before the open season on mountain hare killing begins. The report titled Mountain hare persecution in Scotland exposes the scale of mountain… Read more
Charities and political activists call for mandatory CCTV in slaughterhouses in Scotland
OneKind, Animal Aid, and political activists are petitioning the Scottish Parliament to introduce mandatory CCTV in Scotland’s 35 abattoirs. The move comes after SNP passed a resolution in support of mandatory CCTV in slaughterhouses at their conference in 2016. Since then, there has been little progress, prompting campaigners to raise the issue directly with the… Read more
Why we’re backing Hen Harrier Day
This year, OneKind is getting behind Hen Harrier Day. We will be at the Highland Hen Harrier Day on the 6th August in Boat of Garten, where our Director, Harry Huyton, will be giving a talk about our campaigning on this topic, and we’re promoting events across the country to our members. We’re not bird… Read more
OneKind presents Cairngorms with a giant postcard calling for an end to mountain hare culls
OneKind’s Director Harry Huyton met with Grant Moir, CEO of the Cairngorms National Park Authority this week (Monday 26th June) to hand over a postcard calling for urgent action to be taken to end mountain hare culls within the Park. 8625 people added their name to the back of the postcard and a further 500 people… Read more
OneKind welcomes first successful conviction of a mounted hunt in Scotland
Leading animal protection charity OneKind has welcomed today’s guilty verdict in the Jedburgh fox hunting trial. Jedforest Hunt members Johnathan Riley, 24, and 66-year-old John Clive Richardson were both found guilty of hunting a fox with dogs on farmland near Jedburgh in February 2016 following a trial at Jedburgh Sheriff Court. They are the first… Read more
Reactions to the weakening of the tail-docking ban
OneKind Campaigner Sarah Moyes gives the lowdown on the tail-docking vote, the reaction and what’s next. [View the story “Reactions to the tail-docking vote” on Storify]
Sad day for animal welfare as the tail-docking ban is weakened
Leading animal protection charity OneKind claims today is a sad day for animal welfare following the decision to reintroduce tail-docking for working dogs in Scotland. MSPs voted 86 to 29 in favour of lifting the tail-docking ban this afternoon. Today’s decision comes 10 years after Scotland introduced a ban on tail-docking for all dogs in… Read more
Five misleading arguments being used to justify weakening Scotland’s tail-docking ban
Last week, MSPs on the Environment Climate Change and Land Reform (ECCLR) Committee concluded their debate over the Scottish Government’s proposal to introduce an exemption to the tail-docking ban for ‘working dogs’. There was a majority vote in support of the proposal, with SNP and Conservative MSPs voting in favour and Scottish Green and Labour… Read more
OneKind urges MSPs not to back reintroduction of tail-docking
A leading animal welfare charity is urging MSPs not to vote in favour of reintroducing tail-docking for working dogs in Scotland. Last week, MSPs in the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform (ECCLR) Committee backed the plans to reintroduce tail-docking by seven votes to three with SNP and Conservative MSPs voting in favour and Green… Read more
OneKind welcomes the Scottish Government’s confirmation that stink pits are under review
Leading animal protection charity OneKind has welcome today’s announcement by the Scottish Government to review stink pits. It follows the Stink Pits Stink debate (Motion S5M-05662) which was lodged by Christine Grahame MSP and debated in the Scottish Parliament today. The Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, Roseanna Cunningham MSP confirmed two… Read more
OneKind calls for a ban on stink pits in Scotland
A leading animal welfare charity is calling for a ban on the use of stink pits in Scotland.It comes ahead of a debate lodged by Christine Grahame MSP called Stink Pits Stink. Motion S5M-05662 which will be debated in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday 15th June. Stink pits are used by gamekeepers across Scotland as… Read more
Stink Pits Stink
This week, the Scottish Parliament will debate the use of stink pits in a motion put forward by Christine Grahame MSP. The Stink Pits Stink debate will be a chance for MSPs to discuss these pits which are used across the country as a fundamental part of predator control on shooting estates. If you’ve never… Read more
Charity warns MSPs decision to support tail-docking fails Scotland’s dogs
A leading animal welfare charity claims a decision by MSPs to vote in favour of reintroducing tail-docking for working dogs has failed Scotland’s dogs. MSPs in the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee voted by 7 to 3 in favour of reintroducing tail-docking at a meeting this afternoon. Green MSP Mark Ruskell opposed the changes,… Read more
Dirleton Dog Show 2017
OneKind recently went along to the Dirleton Dog show where we got to meet lots and lots of lovely dogs and their humans. Here are pictures of all the fun dog show winners, including OneKind’s office dog, Millie, who came 4th in the prettiest girl round! Well done to everyone who everyone who took part…. Read more
How is animal welfare treated in in the #GE2017 manifestos?
Theresa May’s declaration of support for fox hunting and her commitment to a vote on the repeal of the Hunting Act in England and Wales has been one of the most talked about issues in the election campaign so far. Buzzfeed report that the bizarre move by the Prime Minster was even in the top… Read more
Should you be allowed to mutilate your dog for your hobby?
We don’t think so, but that’s exactly what the Scottish Government is proposing. In 2007 Scotland took a big step forward and banned all tail docking in dogs, but now they want to reintroduce it for some dogs. They are calling it “tail shortening for working dogs”, but let’s be clear what they mean: Puppies… Read more
Facebook rules let animal abuse slip through the net
Scrolling through your news feed on Facebook is something that we all do multiple times a day, but did you know that Facebook’s lack of a robust policy on animal abuse means that horrifying images and videos can make their way onto your timeline? The Guardian revealed today that Facebook’s policies on issues such as… Read more
Animal welfare charities stage rally to protect hunting laws
Two of Scotland’s leading animal welfare charities are staging a rally in the centre of Edinburgh this weekend in their campaign to protect the laws which ban fox hunting in Scotland, England and Wales. The rally is part of a UK-wide campaign ‘Votes for Vinny’ calling on General Election candidates to support a cruelty free… Read more
OneKind welcomes First Minister’s opposition to fox hunting
Today, in a response to a question from Green Co-Convenor Patrick Harvie MSP, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “I have always been an opponent of fox hunting and remain an opponent of fox hunting”. She continued to say: “Be under no doubt at all this government opposes fox hunting and that’s the position we have… Read more
Animal welfare announcements: glass three-quarters full
It has been a long time coming, but today is the day that the Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (Scotland) Bill starts its progress through the Scottish Parliament. In around a year, we hope, our law will state: “A person who is a circus operator commits an offence if the person causes or permits a… Read more
Campaigners welcome Scottish Bill to ban wild animal circuses
Animal protection organisations with a long history of campaigning against animal circuses have welcomed publication of the Scottish Government Bill to ban the use of wild animals in travelling circuses in Scotland, along with proposals to review performing animal regulations. OneKind, Animal Defenders International, Born Free Foundation and Captive Animals’ Protection Society have all highlighted… Read more
New animal welfare measures welcomed, but reintroduction of tail-docking is a “bitter pill”
New animal welfare measures welcomed, but reintroduction of tail-docking is a “bitter pill” to swallow OneKind has today (Thursday 11 May) welcomed the announcement by the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, Roseanna Cunningham MSP of the introduction of a bill to ban the use of wild animals in travelling circuses and… Read more
OneKind response to Prime Minister’s comments on fox hunting
Animal protection charity OneKind is warning about the significance of the Prime Minister’s statement on fox hunting for Scotland. OneKind is appalled that the Prime Minister has today (Tuesday 9 May) declared her personal support for foxhunting, while renewing a pledge to hold a free vote on overturning the current ban [1]. In 2000, the… Read more
The Scottish legal system is failing our wildlife
Last week, RSPB Scotland released a shocking video. It shows a hen harrier flushed from her nest and shot in mid-air. The perpetrator then seeks to hide any evidence of the crime. This is as strong as evidence ever can be in the case of wildlife crimes, which usually take place in remote areas and… Read more
A fox, a cat, a badger – 3 recent snaring cases that alone justify a ban
It’s peak snaring season in the British countryside. Snares are used throughout the country, mostly to target foxes to protect gamebirds. This includes pheasants that are bred in large pens and then released to be shot, and grouse, which are wild but are protected diligently by gamekeepers so that they can be shot for ‘sport’…. Read more
OneKind urges Scottish Government not to reintroduce tail-docking
A leading animal protection charity is urging the Scottish Government not to reintroduce tail-docking for working dogs in Scotland. Last year, the Scottish Government announced plans which will allow the tails of Spaniel and Hunt Point Retriever puppies to be docked where vets believe the dog will be a working dog in the future, and… Read more
Let’s see some real commitments to animals this election
The Scottish public care deeply about animal issues. Last year in the run op to the Holyrood elections OneKind and our partners in the More for Scotland’s Animals coalition commissioned a YouGov Poll to test public support for progress on animal welfare issues in Scotland. YouGov asked 1,000 adults in Scotland the extent to which… Read more
New investigation exposes horrifying cruelty suffered by Scotland’s farm animals
Breaches in farm animal welfare in Scotland have long been a serious issue in abattoirs across the country. Following an investigation by The Ferret and Bureau of Investigate Journalism, the shocking reality of the issue has been laid out in black and white, leaving Scotland’s slaughterhouses with nowhere to hide and some serious explaining to… Read more
Scotland Bill to ban wild animal circuses comes close
Scotland could be a wild-animal-circus-free zone by next summer. OneKind understands that the Scottish Government Bill to ban the use of wild animals in travelling circuses will be lodged before the Scottish Parliament rises for the summer recess. The legislation will not only be an important statement of Scotland’s modern attitudes to animals, it will… Read more
OneKind talks fox hunting and snares at the SNP conference
Sarah Moyes, Onekind’s new campaigner, blogs on her experience representing OneKind at the SNP conference last week. Last week, I headed north for my first party political conference at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre. The SNP conference is the largest party conference in Scotland, and came just days after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced… Read more
Charity welcomes an end to snaring of mountain hares in Scotland
(image credit: Andrew Parkinson) Leading animal protection charity OneKind has welcomed a decision by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) which will effectively end snaring of mountain hares. The decision was made known as part of a wider review of the impact of snaring regulations introduced under the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011. Mountain hares… Read more
Snaring mountain hares ends because of ‘unnecessary suffering’
For years, OneKind has argued that snaring mountain hares should be banned. Both because of the suffering it causes and the impact it could be having on the declining population of this native species. This week, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) have finally confirmed that they will no longer be issuing licenses for snaring mountain hares,… Read more
Charities call for an end to snaring after SNH review fails to consider a ban
The League Against Cruel Sports Scotland and OneKind are urging the Scottish Government to consider and consult on a ban on snares following a review of snaring in Scotland. The findings of the review, commissioned by the Scottish Government and carried out by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), were published today (Tuesday). The charities have branded… Read more
OneKind calls for urgent action as new evidence emerges of mass culling of of mountain hares
OneKind, Scotland’s leading animal campaigns charity, is calling on the Scottish Government to act swiftly as a truck full of dead mountain hares was spotted in the Scottish Highlands yesterday. The image was taken by wildlife photographer Pete Walkden at 3:59pm on 28 February, the last day of the open season, on the road between… Read more
Scotland has a hare coursing problem. Here’s how to stop it.
Hare coursing is an illegal bloodsport that involves chasing and killing hares with dogs. These dogs are usually ‘sight’ hounds, i.e. dogs that hunt by sight rather than smell such as lurchers and greyhounds. Hare coursers will drive around the countryside and on spotting a hare they will stop and release one, two or occasionally… Read more
It’s time for a Snare-Free Scotland
Last week, we were alerted to another poor fox that had been caught in a snare. The snare had snapped at the stake but got stuck around its middle. The fox managed to run off with the snare still trapped around him, but then went and got caught in another snare. Until snares are banned,… Read more
OneKind welcomes step towards a real hunting ban in Scotland
OneKind has welcomed the Scottish Government’s commitment today to strengthen the Protection of Wild Mammals Act. The Act was introduced in 2002 to ban hunting with dogs but has been marred by loopholes that mean that fox hunting continues in Scotland to this day. Harry Huyton, Director of OneKind, said: “Fox hunting was meant to… Read more
Watch out for mountain hare culls
For those that want their estates free of mountain hares this year, there are only six weeks left. On the 1st of March the closed season starts, giving these poor animals respite from persecution during their breeding season. At our #HareCare rally at the Scottish Parliament in November, the Cabinet Secretary, Roseanna Cunningham MSP, said… Read more
Scotland’s first industrial puppy farm rejected
Last week, protestors gathered outside East Ayrshire Council HQ as the local authority met to discuss proposals for what would have been Scotland’s first industrial puppy farm. It’s no surprise that these plans were met with overwhelming opposition when they were revealed in back in December. OneKind was just one of the animal welfare charities… Read more
OneKind welcomes East Ayrshire Council decision to reject puppy farm
OneKind has welcomed a decision by East Ayrshire Council to reject an application to create an industrial puppy farm in Ayrshire. The application for a dog breeding or rearing establishment licence under the terms of the Breeding of Dogs Act (1973 and 1991) and the Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999 was rejected… Read more
Three reasons why fox hunting will be banned in Scotland for good
Boxing Day is one of the big events in the hunt calendar. Today fox hunts across Scotland will once again set out to kill foxes in spite of the so-called ban that was introduced fourteen years ago. For years, OneKind and others have been calling for the law to be updated so that the ban… Read more
OneKind calls on Scottish Government to make this year’s Boxing Day hunts the last
OneKind, Scotland’s leading animal campaigns charity, is calling on the Scottish Government to end fox hunting for good on the busiest day in the hunting calendar. It follows on from a landmark year which saw the publication of Lord Bonomy’s review into fox hunting in Scotland, and the first post-mortem of a hunted fox since… Read more
OneKind calls for a ban on third-party sales of dogs in Scotland
The import of puppies from puppy farms in Ireland and elsewhere is a major concern with determined, unscrupulous individuals trafficking thousands of dogs to Scotland alone. The illegal puppy trade is a blight on animal welfare in Scotland, and we believe this issue must be tackled immediately. There is also a sizeable trade in puppies… Read more
OneKind calls for ban on third-party sales of dogs in Scotland
A leading animal welfare charity is calling for a ban on the third-party sale of dogs in Scotland. It comes ahead of a debate lodged by Emma Harper MSP on Ending the Illegal Puppy Trade. Motion S5M-02454 will be debated in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 21st December. Libby Anderson, Policy Advisor of OneKind, said:… Read more
These are Scotland’s Badger Culls, but they’re 10 times bigger.
Last year 1467 animals were killed in organised culls. 1467 wild animals, native to our country that have become scape goats for a bigger problem. They stand accused of spreading a disease that threatens commercial interests, and they are paying for this with their lives. I am of course referring to England’s badger culls, but… Read more
The Bonomy Review – What is it and where next?
Fox hunting was meant to have been banned in Scotland back in 2002. In reality, loopholes in the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002 have meant that little has changed. OneKind has long called for these to be addressed, and we’re delighted that a major step towards this has finally been taken. This week… Read more
This post-mortem demonstrates why Scotland must ban fox hunting for real
This is the first time a carcass has been recovered from a fox hunt and post-mortemed since hunting was ‘banned’ in Scotland back in 2002. Here is what it concluded: “The shot gun pellets appear to have missed the vital organs so in my opinion the shot was not instantly fatal and death will have… Read more
Lord Bonomy review shows Scottish fox hunting law is unfit for purpose
OneKind is calling on the Scottish Government to implement recommendations made by Lord Bonomy in a review of hunting as a matter of urgency. The findings of the long awaited Bonomy review into the operation of fox hunting legislation were published today (Monday). OneKind Director Harry Huyton said: “OneKind has long argued that legislation banning… Read more
New data reveals urgent need to protect mountain hare
With just one week to go until our rally and mass lobby of the Scottish Parliament to end mountain hare culling, the Scottish Gamekeepers Association has rung the alarm bell about the level of culling carried out to protect forestry. Mountain hare are protected by a closed season that runs from 1 March until the… Read more
Hare culls rally & mass lobby – One Week to Go!
On Thursday the 17th of September at midday, OneKind supporters will be rallying in front of the Scottish Parliament to call for an end to the mountain hare culls. Please join us! Most people we talk to are shocked to learn that Scotland’s mountain hares are culled in the first place. Everyone has heard of… Read more
New animal welfare measures fail Scotland’s dogs
Let’s start with some good news. Animal welfare is on the Scottish Government’s agenda and already two very positive initiatives have been kicked off. By 2018 wild animals in circuses will be banned, putting Scotland ahead of the UK on this important ethical issue and, we hope, demonstrating to other European countries that this can… Read more
Scottish Government announcements fail to protect dogs
Leading animal welfare charity OneKind claims the Scottish Government has failed to protect dog welfare following today’s announcement on new measures to protect animal welfare. Whilst OneKind has welcomed the commitment to review offences and penalties for animal cruelty under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, the specific measures announced today affecting dogs… Read more
More for Scotland’s Animals at Holyrood
Last week the More for Scotland’s Animals coalition put on an event in the Scottish Parliament sponsored by Christine Grahame MSP to look at how we can make progress on animal welfare in Scotland over the next five years. This follows our campaign earlier this year in which we challenged all candidates to commit to… Read more
Freeing a fox suffering in a snare was compassion – not a crime
We encourage anyone who finds a snare to report it to our website www.SnareWatch.org. SnareWatch aims to build the evidence base behind snaring and the impact it has on animals across the UK, and to date we have had hundreds of reports of incidents. About six months ago a relatively unusual report was submitted. A… Read more
Charities celebrate Scottish Government’s commitment to ban wild animals in circuses from Scotland
OneKind and the Born Free Foundation have welcomed a commitment made today (Tuesday) by the Scottish Government to ban wild animals in circuses. In the full programme for government 2016/17, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon MSP has pledged to introduce a Bill this session to end the use of wild animals in travelling circuses in Scotland…. Read more
OneKind celebrates Scotland’s commitment to ban wild animals in circuses
In its new proposed programme for Government 2016/17, the Scottish Parliament has pledged to introduce a Bill this session to end the use of wild animals in travelling circuses in Scotland. This follows decades of campaigning and lobbying for a ban by OneKind and the Born Free Foundation. Libby Anderson, our policy adviser who has… Read more
USA says no to Scottish salmon linked to seal killing
Seal killing has long been a serious animal welfare issue in Scotland, but it’s now threatening to become an economic and reputational issue too. The USA has introduced a ruling to ban imports with lower marine mammal protection standards than their own. It says that to export to the US, nations must implement a regulatory… Read more
Concern for seal welfare in Scotland as new figures reveal suffering
New information on seal killings in Scotland has revealed hundreds of seals could be suffering painful deaths at the hands of the salmon fishing industry. Despite stipulations that carcasses should be recovered where possible for examination, the majority of carcasses are lost and over 97% of seals killed were not subjected to a post-mortem. Between… Read more
OneKind calls for end to driven grouse shooting on eve of Glorious Twelfth
A leading animal protection charity is calling for an end to driven grouse shooting in Scotland on the eve of the biggest day in the shooting calendar. 12 August, or the Glorious Twelfth as it is known, marks the start of the grouse shooting season in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north of England. OneKind… Read more
The landscape-scale cruelty behind the ‘glorious’ 12th
From the Lammermuirs in the Borders to the Highlands, to the moors of Caithness and Sutherland; much of Scotland is managed to varying degrees for driven grouse shooting, the demands of which are the root cause of much cruelty to Scotland’s wildlife. Driven grouse shooting involves beaters driving red grouse towards a line of waiting… Read more
Charity calls for greater protection of Scotland’s iconic mountain hare on first day of open season
(Image Credit: Andrew Parkinson) A leading animal protection charity is calling for greater protection of the mountain hare, an iconic species native to Scotland. 1st August marks the first day of the open season when hare are routinely shot by shooting parties out for the thrill or by gamekeepers managing land for red grouse shooting…. Read more
OneKind renews call for shock collar ban following Fort Augustus child abuse case
Free availability of shock collars facilitates cruelty, according to charity Animal welfare charity OneKind has renewed its calls for a ban on shock collars in light of a child abuse case involving one of the cruel devices. A woman in Fort Augustus who gave a young boy electric shocks using a dog training collar after… Read more
Charity critical of Edinburgh Zoo’s latest attempt to produce panda cub
Animal protection charity OneKind has criticised the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s latest attempt to produce a panda cub for Edinburgh Zoo through artificial insemination. OneKind Policy Advisor Libby Anderson said: “It is desperately sad that the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland has chosen to subject Tian Tian to further invasive procedures for a fourth… Read more
Scottish election candidates to be quizzed on animal welfare at hustings
Scottish election candidates are to be quizzed on their views on animal welfare at a hustings in Edinburgh tomorrow (Thursday). Online pet trading, keeping wild animals as pets and snaring are expected to be discussed at the event after a recent poll found these were issues which aroused strong feelings among Scots. According to the… Read more
Scots call for better animal protection from new Government
Scottish voters are calling on the incoming parliament to do more to protect animals from cruelty and suffering, according to a new poll. Online pet trading, keeping wild animals as pets, controversial shock collars and snares all aroused strong feelings from Scots. The national opinion poll, carried out by YouGov on behalf of a coalition… Read more
OneKind responds to Scottish Government announcement on the future of Scotland’s beavers
Scottish Government urged to ‘stop procrastinating’ and protect beavers The Scottish Government has today announced that a decision on the future of Scotland’s beavers, which was due last year, will be further delayed until later this year. This follows revelations earlier this year that beavers were being culled indiscriminately as they have no legal protection…. Read more
