Scottish Animal Welfare Commission: annual report 2021 to 2022

4. Work Plan and Work Group Activity

In the past 12 months, the Commission has held 4 plenary meetings – in December in 2021 and in March, June and September in 2022. Minutes and records of attendance are published routinely and held in the Documents section of the Commission's web page.

The Commission published its initial work plan in July 2020. This was followed by refreshed plans in [2021] and [2022]. Smaller working groups lead the projects and also discuss some areas identified for consideration in the medium term. Updates on the activity and output of these groups is as follows. Where reports are referenced, further information can be found in the "Publications" section.

Aquaculture

The working group was formed to consider the welfare of farmed fish in Scotland, including to provide an opinion on the welfare aspects of practices that are required to make the sector sustainable. The group is initially considering the welfare issues arising for farmed Atlantic salmon, and wild animals when protecting farmed fish from predation by seals (such as use of acoustic deterrents). Evidence-gathering sessions included a visit to a salmon farm, a literature review, surveying and interviewing a range of industry experts, and conducting an ethical review.

Written advice was given to Scottish Government's Marine Scotland Licensing Operations Team on 12 August 2022.

The working group is due to publish its initial report on acoustic deterrent devices by February 2023.

Beavers

The Beavers Working Group have investigated welfare issues associated with the management and control of wild beavers in Scotland. Activity was paused while a judicial review, considering the issue of licences for killing beavers, was underway. This concluded in October 2021, at which point members reconvened to continue their evidence gathering process, which included reaching out to a range of relevant stakeholders for their views.

The working group published its report on 13 December 2022.

Dog Training

The working group was initially established to review whether dog trainers and dog training methods should be regulated. The group tasked itself with firstly reviewing and providing an initial report on the welfare issues associated with the use of electronic collars on dogs. Evidence gathering included engagement with a range of stakeholders, a demonstration of dog training practices and a review of the available literature on the issue.

The working group is due to publish its report by February 2023.

After publishing the initial report, the working group intends to expand its remit to look at wider aspects of dog training, grooming and other companion animal services.

Exotic Pets

The working group has considered animal welfare issues surrounding the keeping of exotic pets in Scotland and the potential need for further regulation. It has consulted a number of different sectors during its enquiries, including local authorities, APHA, Scottish SPCA, pet and trade industry stakeholders, Scottish/UK animal welfare NGOs, and EU stakeholders and officials. An interim report was published in September 2021. The need for a literature review on welfare issues associated.with exotic pets was identified. This was commissioned by Scottish Government and completed by SRUC, with the researcher working closely with the working group.

The working group published its final report and the literature review on 11 November 2022.

Sentience

A Sentience Sub-Committee was set up at the end of 2021, in order to assist the other members of SAWC in filtering and prioritising issues relating to animal sentience. Ongoing work includes the development of an ethics and justice framework, drawing on recent Aquaculture Working Group work, and assembling evidence in relation to fish sentience.

Snaring

The working group reviewed the welfare issues surrounding the use of snares in Scotland, taking into account the implications of a decision to keep or amend current legislation relating to their use.

The working group published its position paper on 23 November 2022.

Wildlife Welfare

The Scottish Government has a Programme for Government commitment to publish 'a strategic approach to wildlife management that puts animal welfare at the centre while protecting public health and economic and conservation considerations." SAWC has been engaging with NatureScot on their wildlife welfare principles which forms part of this commitment.

Greyhound racing

Recent petitions on banning racing greyhounds have increased awareness of potential welfare concerns.

In May 2022 SAWC responded to an enquiry by the Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee, with an opinion on the welfare of greyhound racing in Scotland and on unlicensed greyhound racing tracks operating in Scotland.

SAWC has formed a working group to undertake more research and fully consider the available evidence, in order to reach a balanced conclusion by the end of February 2023.

Local authorities handling animal welfare issues

A working group was formed to consider reviewing how different authorities deal with animal welfare issues, whether there are experts who can assess welfare and whether any future recommendations could feasibly be met by the local authorities.

Other areas of the work plan that may be considered in the future:

Microchipping of domestic cats

Consider welfare aspects of microchipping domestic cats, compulsory neutering of cats and outdoor cat controls.

Wildcat reintroduction

Opportunity for SAWC to review policy or provide an opinion on welfare issues at some point.

Abattoir provision and opportunities for mobile slaughterhouses

From a Scottish perspective to review the welfare issues around numbers of abattoirs, slaughter journey times and the welfare of animals killed in mobile slaughterhouses.

Performing animals and animal encounters (potentially including therapy animals)

Currently stakeholder engagement activities in this area but SAWC could provide an opinion on welfare of animals used under these different types of management, including the lives of these animals when not on exhibit/in use.

Potential areas over a longer time scale:

Codes of practice vs industry guidance

Provide an opinion on how information can be best disseminated and its impact in practice. Role for SAWC in reviewing revised or new versions of these (alongside activities of AWC), particularly those falling under areas of particular Scottish concerns such as aquaculture.

Rewilding

Projects involving release of wild, domestic or semi-domestic animals into a wild or partly wild setting raise various welfare concerns. SAWC would review these issues and provide best practice/policy advice – this could potentially follow on from current work looking at snaring.

Welfare of horses kept for racing

Currently no plans to look at this. May respond in future if specific questions from the Minister in this area.