With a strong focus on prevention, the Scottish SPCA has today published its manifesto, Animals Count: Make Them Matter, setting out key asks to support its mission for Scotland to become the best place in the world for an animal to call home.
As the country’s only all-animal welfare charity with legal powers to investigate cruelty, the Scottish SPCA is calling on the next Scottish Government to commit to putting animal welfare at the heart of its priorities and is urging everyone, from political leaders to members of the public, to play their part.
Demand for the charity’s services continues to rise. In the first half of 2025 alone, calls to give up pets increased by almost 20%, and more than 7,400 investigations were carried out into suspected cruelty and neglect.
Backed by evidence and growing public support, the charity calls for the wellbeing of Scotland’s animals – whether domestic, farmed or wild – to be recognised as both a national priority and a shared responsibility.
True protection means tackling the causes of suffering, not just the symptoms
Nicola Strachan, Head of Advocacy & Strategic Partnership at the Scottish SPCA, said: “Every day, our teams see the best and worst of how animals are treated in Scotland. We rescue, protect and care for thousands, but true protection means tackling the causes of suffering, not just the symptoms.
“The public is clear that animal welfare matters. Our latest Animal Kindness Index, in partnership with RSPCA and USPCA, shows it’s now the third most important issue for people in Scotland. That gives Parliament a clear mandate to act.
When animals count, Scotland leads
“This manifesto offers a roadmap for the next Scottish Government and all political parties to deliver meaningful reform, from stronger enforcement and education to modernised legislation. When animals count, Scotland leads.”
The manifesto outlines four bold but achievable asks that take the biggest step in delivering lasting change:
- 1. Create a National Animal Offenders Register – built into existing intelligence systems to help agencies monitor bans, track repeat offenders and identify links between animal abuse and other crimes.
- 2. Embed Animal Welfare in the Scottish Curriculum – fostering empathy, wellbeing and social responsibility from an early age.
- 3. Review the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 – the two-decades old legislation needs an urgent review, addressing emerging issues such as sharing animal abuse footage online.
- 4. Introduce a Permitted List of Pets – to ensure exotic animals are not kept in environments that fail to meet their complex needs, preventing abandonment and easing pressure on rescue centres.
These proposals build on the Society’s ongoing campaigns, including calls for a ban on public sale and use of fireworks, making dog theft a specific offence and ending the use of electric shock collars.
The charity is inviting MSPs, candidates and political stakeholders to meet and discuss its proposals. It is also urging the public to play their part by contacting their MSPs to show support and keep animal welfare at the heart of Scotland’s future.
“Achieving our mission will take all of us,” added Nicola. “A kinder Scotland, one where every animal is protected and valued, can only be built together.”
The full Animals Count: Make Them Matter manifesto is available on our website: https://www.scottishspca.org/what-we-do/our-manifesto/.
