Question reference: S5W-20979
- Asked by: Maurice Corry, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 14 January 2019
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Current status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 30 January 2019
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to deal with the issue of fly-grazing horses, and what its position is on introducing legislation similar to the Control of Horses Act 2015, which is in place for England and Wales.
Answer
Fly-grazing is rarely reported in Scotland, unlike the situation on England and Wales; and we have not been alerted of a problem by either our stakeholders or local authorities. We are, however, aware of an isolated case in the Argyll and Bute Council area.
The Council has identified the owner of the horses and is seeking removal through the courts, and the Scottish SPCA is reported as having visited on a number of occasions to ensure the horses’ welfare.
The Scottish Government takes the welfare of all animals extremely seriously and that welfare is provided for under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006. The Scottish Government encourages those with concerns for the welfare of an animal, whether by reason of neglect or abandonment, to raise these concerns with the relevant local authority or the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.