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Scottish SPCA unveils animal welfare strategy
The SSPCA has pledged to eradicate the cruel puppy and kitten trade.

Pledges include eliminating the low-welfare puppy and kitten trade.

The Scottish SPCA (SSPCA) has unveiled an ambitious 10-year strategy for animal welfare, with a commitment to reduce levels of abuse and eradicate the cruel puppy and kitten trade.

The strategy, entitled For All Animals, also contains a pledge to create a network of more than 250,000 Youth Ambassasors and to ensure all farmed animals in Scotland are raised to the charity's own high welfare standards.

The SSPCA aims to grow its net income by 20 per cent over the next decade and become a Net Zero organisation. It said it would use the increased revenue to develop new and exisiting facilities where the need is greatest and enhance staff and volunteer development. 

Scottish SPCA chief executive, Kirsteen Campbell, said: “Demand for our services is going to continue to grow and grow. That’s why many of the ambitions we have set out intend to get downstream of the main drivers of animal welfare issues and tackle them at their source. 

“We are at a critical juncture for animal welfare in Scotland, where pets, wild and farmed animals face increasingly complex challenges. These can’t be solved by any individual or agency and a key part of For All Animals is creating and building the right partnerships."

She continued: “Our vision for animal welfare in Scotland is one where it is the best place in the world for an animal to be. It is a country where abuse is in retreat, where profiteering from animals is a thing of the past and where people everywhere treat animals with respect and kindness. 

Scottish SPCA board chair, Fiona MacLeod, added: “Prevention is the P in SSPCA, and that will always be our ultimate aim. If an animal never needs our help that means their welfare has never been at risk or compromised. That is why this vision sets out what we think is required to create the circumstances which maximise the chances of every individual animal’s welfare requirements being met.”

“We will continue to resolutely support the animals who do need our help. Therefore, we are committed to becoming a more sustainable and resilient charity in terms of generating more net income, improving our environmental credentials and offering a first-class experience to not only the animals we care for but the people who so generously support and work with us.”

Image (C) Scottish SPCA

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."