Today in a meeting of the Scottish Parliament, during Rural Affairs and Island Portfolio Question time, Ruth Maguire MSP asked the Scottish Government what its response is to the Snarewatch Annual Report 2021 from OneKind. Mairi McAllan, Minister for Environment and Land Reform, responded on behalf of the Scottish Government. Ruth Maguire MSP asked: "To... Continue Reading →
Tougher Penalties for Wildlife Crime as Act Comes into Force
New measures to increase the maximum available penalties for the worst cases of animal cruelty have come in to force. The Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020 increases the maximum penalty for the most serious animal welfare and wildlife crimes to five years imprisonment and unlimited fines. Under the act, tougher... Continue Reading →
Protected Status for Mountain Hares Granted
Ruth Maguire MSP has welcomed the decision by the Scottish Parliament to give protected status to mountain hares. The change in legislation was confirmed as The Scottish Parliament passed the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Bill. The new Bill will now require control of mountain hare numbers to be done under license... Continue Reading →
Coronavirus Advice for Pet Owners
Since social distancing guidelines came into effect there have been many questions raised from pet owners wondering how the lockdown enforced by the Scottish and UK Governments will impact on how they take care of their pets. 16 leading animal welfare organisations across the UK have issued approved advice which is available to view from... Continue Reading →
Vigilance Around Hedgehogs Called for as Hibernation Period Nears End
MSP for Cunninghame South, Ruth Maguire has urged members of the public to be mindful of young hedgehogs which may be in difficulty. Following on from National Hedgehog Day, the MSP drew attention to declining numbers of the species as a cause for concern. Having been appointed a species champion for hedgehogs in 2016 by... Continue Reading →
Ruth Maguire MSP (SNP) 