A new law, which significantly increases the maximum prison sentence for animal cruelty in Scotland from one to five years, came into effect on July 23 after receiving Royal Assent from the Queen.
After years of campaigning by animal welfare groups, Scottish penalties will now be in line with those of many other European countries.
“Battersea, alongside the Scottish SPCA, other rescue organizations and members of the public, have been campaigning for a change in the law in Scotland since 2017,” said Battersea’s Chief Executive Claire Horton. “We are thrilled with this change in the law.
“This is the final piece of the puzzle,” she continued. “It’s been a very long journey to make the punishment fit the crime – it will act as a proper deterrent and protect animals from those who would abuse and mistreat them.”
In England and Wales, however, the maximum punishment is still only six months – the lowest penalty in all of Europe. The Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill, which would increase animal cruelty prison sentences, has been repeatedly postponed, even though the UK Government pledged its support over three years ago.
“The Scottish Government has now delivered their promise on tackling animal cruelty,” said Horton. “It is now time Westminster stopped delaying and followed suit.”
The second reading for the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill is now scheduled to take place on October 23 of this year.
What’s New…
Un exemple qui devrait être suivi par tous les pays!!!
Happy to hear but NOT LONG ENOUGH!!!
Happy to hear but NOT LONG ENOUGH!!!
Come on the rest of the UK, if Scotland can do it so can we!
Brilliant, all countries should up their game to enforce stricter laws against such cruelty to innocent animals.
IT’S GOOD TO KNOW THAT SOMEONE CARES ABOUT CRUELTY TO OTHER LIVING BEINGS!!
I am so happy to hear this, I love all animals and hope and pray every day that they live in harmony with humans. Wild animals need to be left in their own habitats without the interruption of humans like it was meant to be in the first place.
“ABOUT BL**DY TIME” !! lets just hope the “Past sell by date” judges & the “*MORONIC CPS”* actually i”FULLY IMPOSE” the maximum sentences & make the scum who have been charged with animal cruelty serve “FULLY” that sentence, “STUFF THIS” suspended /early release sentences “CRAP” we “NEED” a deterrent that “HAS TEETH” & makes those charged with cruelty “THINK TWICE” fully knowing that they “WILL” serve a “LONG PRISON SENTENCE” !!
“*—–*” assuming their “CPS” is the same as ours” !! hopefully not as our British CPS is “NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE” !!
& quite possibly corrupt !!
Long past time you all became human and started caring for and protecting all of these innocent and defenseless animals.
They should make it a never ending, STOP ALL OF THIS NOW … SIck fucking chinks
Start being human by protecting animals not torturing them. Real men do not torture or kill animals. Real men help and save animals.
Still not long enough but keep going.
This is AWESOME!! Every animal deserves a good home, but every home does not deserve an animal. And animals are an easy target for psychopathic nuts.
It’s about time! But now I’m becoming ashamed of my Welsh and English heritage.
I’m glad there punished for Animal Cruelty !!”
Thank you Scotland. I hope the rest of the world will follow your fine example.
Spain and USA just to mention 2 countries that need to follow you.
I salute this decision, bravo!
At least the Scots have made a forward thinking move in the fight against animal cruelty, praise where praise is due.
This is great news, and a big thank you to the Scottish Government. Now Scotland needs to focus on banning the live transport of young calves, the discarded byproduct of the dairy industry, out of the UK and stop the misery of days of travelling in cramped lorries without food, water or rest. After this extended hell, they’re slaughtered. A short, miserable life, with a brutal ending.
Exactly what I was going to write. Now ban the live transportation of young calves. This is SO cruel!
Well done, Scotland!
Så fint
WELL DONE – SCOTLAND – THE BEST NEWS THIS YEAR !!
I SINCERELY HOPE – THAT EVENTUALLY – ALL OTHER COUNTRIES FOLLOW YOUR EXAMPLE = : )xxx
Good , about time!*
C’mon England and Wales you can do it. Bravo Scotland.
love and thanks from the UK but why haven’t we passed this legislation? Six months is hardly a deterrent. Well done Scotland xxxx
Great news! Now if only the rest of the world would catch on.
Thank you Scotland. I’m glad it wasn’t from one slap on the hand to five slaps on the hands. As for England and Whales, they are too ignorant and uncaring. Until they ban fox hunting with dogs, they will only be the snobbish, puritan idiots in all of Europe
We need to have a universal law any animal abuser must endure what their victim has and loose their freedom – it’s a proven fact that animal abusers will harm an innocent defenseless human in the same or worse manners – so no more of this slap on the hand they need to pay for what they do – an eye for an eye , a life for a life . Enough is enough and mankind ( far to high of a percentage ) have no respect for a life rather it be human or animal!
receiving Royal Assent from the Queen. is an important message , The Queen has long loved her dogs probably with her father as king and horses of course… this is a good thing