WIREDGOV

Increased animal cruelty penalties and new legal protections for service animals set to be introduced.

MSPs are being urged to support increased penalties for the worst types of animal cruelty and ‘Finn’s law’ which involves new legal protections for service animals such as police dogs and horses.

The Animals and Wildlife Bill would increase the maximum penalty for the most serious animal and wildlife crimes to five years imprisonment and an unlimited fine, if it passes its final stage in Parliament today (17 June).

And Finn’s law, if passed, will remove a legal defence of self-defence for attacks on service animals in the course of their duties.

Animal welfare enforcement agencies would also be given innovative new powers, which would allow animals taken into their care to be quickly rehomed without the need for a court order.

Rural Affairs Minister Mairi Gougeon said:

“This Bill is an important milestone in Scotland’s long tradition of protecting our animals and wildlife.

“The increased maximum available penalties reflect the seriousness of some of the very cruel crimes seen against domestic and wild animals - although these cases are thankfully rare.

“Finn’s law, named after a Police dog brutally injured in the course of its duties, recognises the important role service animals play in protecting us in sometimes very difficult circumstances.

“The Bill also provides innovative new powers, described as ‘transformative’ by the Scottish SPCA, that will allow animal welfare enforcement agencies to quickly rehome animals in their care.”

Background

The Bill’s full title is the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Bill.

The final vote on whether to pass the Bill is due to take place in the evening of Wednesday 17 June.

An independently-chaired taskforce will start work this summer to consider whether the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Scottish SPCA) should be given extra powers to investigate wildlife crime, following a Scottish Government commitment on the matter during Parliament’s consideration of the Bill.