Scottish Animal Welfare Commission: annual report 2023-2024

1. Word from the Chair

It is my great pleasure to introduce this fourth annual review of the activities of the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission (SAWC), reporting on our activities from October 2023 to September 2024. The SAWC Commissioners meet together on four occasions per year, mostly in person, and where detailed discussions are held on the various activities of SAWC. We also have several working groups, which meet regularly, usually online as time-efficient methods of meeting and which are focused on addressing specific animal welfare issues of relevance to Scotland. As you can see in this report, the Commission currently has seven areas of activity, with reports due for completion very soon in a number of areas (see below) and new areas of activity in the planning states.

The work of SAWC this year has considered a number of important welfare issues for wildlife and companion animals. No reports have yet been published this year but the Commission is engaged in a number of substantial areas of work, including the responsible ownership and care of domestic cats, the use of cleaner fish in aquaculture, the role and approach of different Local Authorities in dealing with animal welfare issues and access to slaughterhouses and abattoirs for Scottish producers and the welfare implications for farmed animals. SAWC has also developed a position paper on the important issue of ensuring the welfare of wildlife during translocations and reintroductions and continues to address other issues where there is a timely or important need to express an opinion for Scotland’s animals. Although SAWC takes guidance and requests from Scottish Government and others, it is independent in forming its workplan, and any recommendations are arrived at on the basis of evidence, considered from the point of view of animal welfare costs or benefits. This year SAWC also provided advice in the form of letters to Ministers in several areas of animal welfare, including welfare issues relating to the banning of XL bully dogs, and have responded to various consultations relating to the use of animals, or where changes may impact on animal lives.

SAWC has also continued to maintain strong working links with related groups. In May the SAWC Chair and secretariat hosted the annual EuroFAWC meeting in Edinburgh, which brought together chairs and representatives of FAWC and AWC groups across Europe and New Zealand. SAWC members regularly attend meetings of the Animal Welfare Committee (formerly Farm Animal Welfare Committee), and SAWC invites the Chair of AWC to attend SAWC plenary meetings. SAWC looks forward to continuing close and supportive contact with AWC and with the new Animal Sentience Committee. SAWC also maintains close working relationships with the Wild Animal Welfare Committee, which contributes to reports on wildlife matters. These contacts ensure that SAWC is able to provide a strong and impartial view on animal welfare for Scottish farm, companion and wild animals.