Is Scotland trapped in the past?

Thursday, 19 February 2009 00:00

Our Campaign to Ban Snares in Scotland will mark the anniversary of the decision taken by Michael Russell MSP not to make snaring illegal. Advocates for Animals and the League Against Cruel Sports will mark the anniversary on 19 February 2009 outside the Scottish Parliament building and across Edinburgh by showing the terrible reality of snares.

Human actors will be “caught” in snares, representing the utterly indiscriminate nature of these cruel traps, with haunting animal sounds being played.

On the 20 February last year the Government announced it would not be banning snares, a move which went against overwhelming public and political support but would instead be introducing a raft of measures to regulate their use. One year on and these regulations are yet to be implemented.

Speaking ahead of the photo call, Advocates for Animals’ Political Director, Libby Anderson, said:

“A year has gone by since the Minister disregarded public opinion and condemned thousands of animals to a cruel and painful death in snares. In the 21st century it is almost impossible to believe that hanging animals is still legal in Scotland.

“Is Scotland trapped in the past? The Scottish Government is keeping us there. 79% of people in Scotland want an end to snaring in Scotland. The new Minister for Environment, Roseanna Cunningham MSP, has a chance to right the wrongs of the past year and we encourage her to do so now.”

Campaign partner and Campaigns Manager for the League Against Cruel Sports, Louise Robertson, added:

“This is an issue which will continue to be a thorn in the side of the Scottish Government until it takes the appropriate action to make illegal these crude traps. The Government has shown how little regard it has for animal welfare by not banning them when it had the chance and by failing to take decisive action to implement the new regulations.”