Scottish Animal Welfare Commission minutes: 14 May 2026

Attendees and apologies

Scottish Animal Welfare Commission (SAWC) members

• Cathy Dwyer, Chair
• Libby Anderson
• Paula Boyden
• Mike Radford
• Pete Goddard
• Ellie Wigham
• Andrew Kitchener
• Harvey Carruthers
• Ben Sturgeon
• Gilly Mendes Ferreira
• Charlotte Burn
• Iain McKendrick

Scottish Government

• Andrew Voas – Veterinary Head of Animal Welfare
• Simon Girling – Veterinary Adviser, Animal Welfare Team
• Sam Turner – Leader, Wildlife Management Team
• Andy McKinlay – Policy Officer and Secretariat Support, Animal Welfare Team

Items and actions

Welcome

This was the second plenary meeting of 2026.  The Chair warmly welcomed all of SAWC, including the four new members who were appointed at the beginning of April:

• Dr Ben Sturgeon
• Gilly Mendes Ferreira
• Professor Charlotte Burn
• Professor Iain McKendrick

Updates and Activity since last plenary meeting

SAWC

Since the last plenary meeting in February 2026 SAWC has:

Responded to two DEFRA calls for views on:

• laying hen cage reform
• lamb welfare

Cathy gave evidence to the RAI Committee on salmon farming and salmon mortality

SAWC members participated in another Scottish Government Responsible Dog Ownership Expert Advisory Group meeting

SAWC received and responded to correspondence on a variety of issues, including on:

• Dog ownership and breeding
• Exotic pet keeping
• St Kilda sheep

SAWC’s working groups have continued to work on a range of animal welfare issues (see Work Group Updates section below)

Scottish Government

Officials continue to monitor and work with  DEFRA on issues which may extend to Scotland or have a potential impact in Scotland

Work is ongoing on several Scottish Parliament bills:

• Welfare of Dogs
• Dog Theft
• Greyhound Racing (Offences)

Work is ongoing in several other areas, including on:

• Licensing of canine fertility services
• Castration and tail docking of lambs
• Livestock transport between islands and mainland Scotland; and welfare of trade
• Equine welfare guidance
• Salmon and trout welfare

Animal Welfare Commission

A written update was provided by the AWC Secretariat, on some of its ongoing work, including activity around the following areas:

• Fur – responsible sourcing
• Laying hen welfare in non-cage systems
• Safeguarding the welfare of farmed animals from the effects of climate change
• Poultry stunning

Opinions on livestock breeding and responsible sourcing of fur have also been published on gov.uk.

Work Group Updates

Isolated Feral Animals

The working group has met numerous times, including to engage in discussions with various stakeholders.  Two members of the work group also visited St Kilda at the end of April to gain a better understanding of the situation and conditions for the sheep.

Sentience

General work on the consideration of sentience is ongoing, including on foetal sentience.

Wildlife Welfare

The next catch up between SAWC and NatureScot is being arranged for August.

Some of the other issues members have been discussing include gull management in urban situations and deer legislation.

An update on SG wildlife management work was also delivered, including on species licensing, trapping licensing, deer management, ban on glue traps and predator control guidance.

Local Authorities Handling Animal Welfare Issues

The working group continues to discuss these issues and engage with local authorities and other stakeholders across Scotland to learn about the issues they face.

Animal Experiences

Members continue to engage with stakeholders, discussing the welfare of animals used under a variety of different types of management, including the lives of these animals when not on exhibit/in use and how to measure their well-being.

Equine Welfare

Members are continuing to look into issues around equine welfare for leisure horses in Scotland, receiving insights from stakeholder meetings and evidence from publications.

Review of 2006 Act

3 sub-work groups continue to discuss the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, with the aim of reporting on and reviewing it, 20 years-on, focusing on:

• Legislation
• Science
• Public Attitudes

Work Plan Discussion

Members discussed the current work plan, and whether any content should be added or adjusted.

Next Meeting/s

The next plenary meeting will take place on Thursday 27th August 2026.

Any other business

Members agreed to put together a briefing note for the new Cabinet Secretary and Minister are appointed, to update them on what they are working on, and they think are important current issues facing Scottish animals.

Members discussed two new work streams which SAWC will embark on soon:

• Data collection on animals – e.g. traceability, losses and other standardised welfare metrics
• Aquaculture – potentially on fish mortality

There was also a discussion on welfare issues associated with the annual Guga Hunt on Sula Sgeir.