What will happen if I call you about suspected cruelty to animals?

When you call our animal helpline to report an incident our helpline advisors will ask you for key information, such as where and when the incident took place, and any information you may have about who is responsible.

When we have these details, one of our inspectors will investigate further.

Scottish SPCA inspectors are authorised to enforce the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, which means we can report cases of suspected animal cruelty to the Crown Office. While we receive no government funding, we are the only animal welfare charity in the UK with this status.

On occasion, our inspectors will issue advice to animal owners to help improve animal welfare standards. We may also issue an animal welfare notice which is legally enforceable, or submit a report to the procurator fiscal who will decide if the owner should be prosecuted.