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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
