‘Spot checks for animal sickos’ plea to the Scottish Government
ANTI-cruelty activists say it’s easy for sick people to flout animal bans because they’re not being checked.
Dozens are convicted of abuse each year, but there is no system in place to ensure disqualifications are enforced.
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Pressure group Operation Frankish is calling on Holyrood to make spot checks compulsory in Scotland – and hopes similar checks will follow across the UK.
A spokesman for the group said yesterday: “If someone gets a ban, they can break it quite easily because there is no follow-up structure.”
“We want state-ordered, state-funded, mandatory checks on people who have been banned from court.”
According to the Scottish SPCA, 88 people were arrested last year for animal cruelty. Of these, 40 were disqualified.
Among them was Scottish Grouse game warden Rhys Davies, 29, who had abused four dogs and trained them to fight. Callum Muir, 26, from Logan, Ayrshire, was also banned for letting his three dogs maul badgers and foxes.
In 2021, mum Kirsty McNeil, 42, was disqualified for keeping the body of her starved dog in her freezer at her Livingston home.
Scotland’s SPCA chief commissioner Mike Flynn said he would support a national register of prohibited criminals.
He added: “Currently, many under the ban are changing addresses, making surveillance impossible.”
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A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Scotland is a nation of pet lovers and it is vital that those who have pets practice responsible animal husbandry to ensure the highest standards of animal welfare.”
“We have a legal obligation under Section 17 of the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Safeguards and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020 to review the disclosure of information about individuals who have committed wildlife crime, animal health and welfare crimes by 2025.”
“We will consider the issues raised by activists as part of this review.”
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