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[APD] Scots Law



I believe jim wrote this email section below:
I think Nick Andrews wrote:


I don't think ANY organization has the authority of law to prosecute you
or anyone else for what they do with their pets.

In Scotland it is illegal to cause suffering, mutilate, etc. a domestic pet or farm animal.
You get put in prison by the officers of the SSPCA organisation.

SSPCA Inspectors can report cases directly to the Procurator Fiscal Service (court) without police assistance. It may be unique in the world in being able to do this. You can't do this in England or Wales.
http://www.scottishspca.org/information/inspectorate

Inspectors of the Scottish SPCA have a special legal dispensation to prosecute people under animal welfare legislation.


Our fairly recent enhancement of 'The Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006' gives powers for the like of "The Need to Exhibit Normal Behavioural Patterns" in pets. So dogs can't be chained up for long periods, left in cars or I suppose fish kept in small bare bowls without gravel could be valid reasons.

Plus we have "The Need to be Protected from Suffering, Injury and Disease", this could be say tanks with no filters as these are not allowed to be sold in Scotland.

Then there is "The Need to be Housed with, or Apart from, other Animals". So technically having one Cory or Neon Tetra kept in a tank could be considered illegal.

So far no ornamental fish cases have gone to court though. The SSPCA is considered lacklustre by many when it comes to cruelty caused to aquarium animals however.

This summary of the act makes interesting reading if you've never came across it before.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/04/30154411/9
People tell me this act of law is the most 'advanced' animal rights in the world. But I'm no expert. :-)

Prison sentence can be:
Maximum period of 12 months and/or fined up to £20,000.

Cute eh?

--
Stuart Halliday
http://mytriops.com/
200 Million years in the making...


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