What we do in Scotland

The League campaigns against cruelty to animals perpetrated in the name of sport in Scotland – in the same way that it campaigns on the same issue in the rest of the UK.

Some legislation that affects Scotland is reserved to Westminster – including the licensing of most guns. However, much other legislation that the League campaigns on in Scotland is controlled by the Scottish Parliament, including hunting, snaring, air gun licensing and issues pertaining to conservation. The League makes representations to Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) on these important issues.

Current campaigns include:

Guns: The Scottish Government recently began the process of installing a licensing scheme for air guns. The League supports tighter controls on the sale and use of air guns and will be carefully monitoring the progress of the legislation and making representations to ensure that it makes it as difficult as possible to harm animals with an air gun. The League also believes that is wrong for children to be able to buy magazines which glamorise guns and gun violence.

Snares: Despite a passionate and high profile campaign by the League and other organisations, the Scottish Government stopped short of completely banning snares in Scotland. However, the campaign was a partial success, as Scotland now has very stringent laws that control the use of snares. The League is currently monitoring the situation to ensure these laws are enforced and continues to campaign for an outright ban.

Shooting: The League believes that shooting animals for sport is inherently cruel and that rearing birds purposefully to enjoy their mass slaughter is barbaric. The League campaigns to expose the unpleasant truth of the shooting industry in Scotland.

The League is a member of the Cross Party Group on Animal Welfare and of the Partnership Against Wildlife Crime in Scotland (PAWS).

The League Against Cruel Sports won a major victory in 2002, when the practise of hunting animals with dogs was banned earlier in Scotland than elsewhere in the UK. Unlike other parts of the UK, there is no threat that this legislation will be repealed. However, the League remains concerned about reports of illegal foxhunting in Scotland.

For further information about the League's campaigning in Scotland, please email: jenniferdunn@league.org.uk