McArthur meets with SSPCA and local partners to discuss animal welfare coverage in Orkney

Orkney's MSP Liam McArthur has today met with representatives from the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA), OIC, Police Scotland and local vet practices to discuss the impact of the SSPCA's withdrawal of dedicated coverage from the islands on the provision of animal welfare in the islands.

Earlier this year, the SSPCA announced its decision to remove auxiliary inspectors from Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles in response to financial pressures and increasing operational costs. They confirmed that going forward, their North Inspectorate team would continue to offer investigatory support in the islands, where appropriate.

Mr McArthur met with the SSPCA in parliament back in May, following concerns raised by constituents. Today's meeting brought together local partners with a responsibility for animal welfare with SSPCA representatives to discuss the recent restructuring and what can be done through joint working to maximise the capacity available to investigate and respond to animal welfare concerns in Orkney.

Commenting after the meeting, Mr McArthur said:

"The withdrawal of an SSPCA presence in Orkney has caused understandable concern. No-one doubts the financial pressures the charity is under, but so too are the other partners with a role in safeguarding animal welfare locally.

“Today’s meeting confirmed that the changes made by SSPCA earlier this year are already having an impact on the workload of local vets, police officers and Council officials working in this field. The concern is that this leads to animal welfare cases being missed or concerns not being raised in the first instance.

“There was a welcome commitment from those involved in today’s meeting to look at what more might be done to improve communications, signposting and joint working between the various partners. Hopefully, progress can be made in these discussions ahead of a visit to Orkney by SSPCA in the new year.

“All recognised the importance of ensuring the public has confidence that when animal welfare concerns are raised these will be dealt with appropriately. There was also a recognition, however, that this will be challenging given the lack of resources across the public and voluntary sector.
 

“That said, I'll continue to work with SSPCA, OIC, Police Scotland and our local vet teams to ensure clear signposting for the support that is available to members of the public when animal welfare concerns arise.”