Political parties are being urged to strengthen their commitments on animal welfare in the final days of the election campaign, as new polling highlights strong and consistent public support for reform across Scotland.
New research commissioned by More for Scotland’s Animals (MFSA), a coalition of 15 animal welfare charities, shows that animal welfare is firmly on the public agenda.
A survey of 1,102 adults across Scotland, conducted by YouGov between November and December 2025, found that more than six in ten people consider animal welfare an important political issue. Almost two thirds (64%) believe current laws do not go far enough to protect animals.
Support for stronger protections is particularly high among younger voters, with 71% of 18–24-year-olds backing tougher laws. However, support remains consistently strong across all age groups, underlining that animal welfare is not a niche issue, but a mainstream national concern.
Regionally, support is highest in the North East at 72%, and remains high across the country, with the lowest level of support still at 57% in Mid Scotland and Fife.
Animal welfare has received limited attention in many of the main party platforms
Despite this, analysis of party manifestos shows that animal welfare has received limited attention in many of the main party platforms.
Only the Scottish Greens and Scottish Labour referenced at least one of the Scottish SPCA’s key policy priorities, including proposals such as a permitted list of animals that can be kept as pets. The Scottish Greens also committed to reviewing the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, which will be 20 years old next month.
Both parties also included a commitment to ban electric shock collars, a measure supported by 81% of respondents. Scottish Labour additionally committed to compulsory microchipping for cats and working with farmers to improve welfare standards, while the Scottish Greens set out proposals on fireworks and farming practices.
Other parties made more limited or indirect references. The SNP included commitments on fish welfare and wild salmon, while the Scottish Conservatives and Scottish Liberal Democrats did not set out specific animal welfare pledges in their manifestos.
Across all parties, there remain key gaps. No party committed to establishing a National Animal Offenders Register, which would help prevent repeat offending, and none included plans to introduce animal welfare education in schools.
Animal welfare is woven into everyday life
Nicola Strachan, Head of Advocacy and Strategic Partnerships at the Scottish SPCA, said: “Public expectations on animal welfare are clear, consistent and shared across Scotland. This is not a fringe issue, it is something people expect to see reflected in the decisions their elected representatives make.
Animal welfare is woven into everyday life. It touches our communities, our economy, our rural industries, our education system and our collective sense of responsibility.
What we are seeing in this election is a gap between that public expectation and the level of ambition set out in a number of party manifestos.
There is still time in this campaign for parties to strengthen their commitments. The measures we are calling for are practical, evidence led and designed to prevent harm before it happens.”
The Scottish SPCA is calling on all parties to use the final days of the campaign to set out clear commitments that reflect the strength of public support and ensure Scotland continues to progress as a nation that values and protects animal welfare.
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