The Scottish SPCA is part of an unprecedented coalition of 50 animal welfare charities urging the UK Government to grasp a ‘once-in-a-generation opportunity’ to redefine our relationship with animals through a new animal health and welfare strategy.
The group has today (Saturday 8 April) released a report - “Act Now For Animals” - setting out the sector’s priorities for creating a society which rebalances the way we rear, live and work with animals.
The group has published a report - Act Now For Animals - which details 40 recommendations covering the welfare of companion animals, wildlife, exotics and farm animals. We are also calling on the new Animal Sentience Committee to be able to hold the Government to account and have an independent chair and leading animal welfare experts on board.
Our chief executive, Kirsteen Campbell, said: “Our understanding of what animal welfare and animal sentience is has fundamentally changed in recent years. The time is now for the UK Government to produce an ambitious, visionary strategy and put the resources in place to support its delivery. Whilst some positive legal reforms have been implemented in Scotland and across the UK recently, this bold new plan for animal welfare must reflect the way humanity’s relationship with animals has evolved, taking into account the urgent need to protect animals and their habitats. We’ve united with dozens of organisations across the animal welfare sector because we, as well as the general public, recognise the urgency with which policymakers must act to alter the way we interact with and treat pets, wildlife and farm animals.”
Chris Packham, who has lent his support to the charities, added: “The last animal welfare strategy was 17 years ago in 2004 and so much has changed since then. The past two decades have seen an attitudinal change in the public and growing scientific understanding that animals have emotions, feelings and needs and deserve a good life.”
More on:
Posted On: 10/05/2021