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Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

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Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Founded1839; 186 years ago (1839)
TypeCharity
FocusAnimals
Location
Websitewww.scottishspca.org

The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (also known as the Scottish SPCA and SSPCA) is a charity to promote animal welfare in Scotland.

History and operations

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It was founded in Edinburgh in 1839 and one of its first aims was to improve the welfare of cart-horses.[1] Over the next century and a half, the charity grew and merged with other local SPCAs, such as the Dundee SPCA, Glasgow and West of Scotland SPCA and Aberdeen SPCA.

The Scottish SPCA opened its first centre in Mansfield, Balerno, in 1930. It acted as a Rest Farm for Horses which provided many working horses and ponies a period of rest before being returned to work. Following recent closures the Scottish SPCA now has 6 animal rescue centres which treat over 12,000 animals a year after, with its headquarters and animal helpline based in Dunfermline.[2]

As an animal welfare charity, the society receives no government or lottery funding and relies on public donations to continue their work rescuing and rehoming mistreated animals in Scotland.

The Scottish SPCA is the only animal welfare charity in the United Kingdom that is a specialist reporting agency to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.[3][4] This enables it to lay reports for prosecutions, given there is no effective system of private prosecution in Scotland. This power is coupled with the designation of the Scottish SPCA's inspectors under section 49(2)(a) of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, which enables SSPCA Inspectors to exercise powers of entry, search, seizure and issue of binding notices under the Act, such as "care notices". The Scottish SPCA is the only animal welfare organisation in Great Britain to have such powers.

In promoting prevention of cruelty, the Scottish SPCA is unique in running a free visiting education service for schools, tying in extensively with the Scottish curriculum. Since devolution, the Scottish SPCA has been at the forefront of campaigning in the Scottish Parliament for improved animal protection laws in Scotland and were prominent advisors on the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Bill which obtained Royal Assent in May 2006.

The Scottish SPCA has recently faced controversies concerning its management and operations:

CEO resignation amid financial struggles.

In early 2025, CEO Kirsteen Campbell announced her departure after nearly eight years at the helm.  Her resignation comes as the charity grapples with escalating operational costs—now at £63,000 per day—and a projected annual budget shortfall of £4.2 million.  These financial challenges are attributed to rising expenses in veterinary care, energy, and food, coupled with a surge in animal intake due to the cost-of-living crisis.  

Closure of Animal Rescue Centers.

In late 2023 and early 2025, the Scottish SPCA closed its Ayr, Caithness, Cryston and Dundee rescue centers, citing the need to adapt to increasing demand and complex animal welfare cases.  The controversial closures have raised concerns about reduced accessibility to animal welfare services in these regions whilst frontline staff have raised concerns that additional strains have been placed on an already over stretched workforce.

Allegations of Workplace Bullying and Mismanagement.

Current and former staff have reported issues such as being overworked, concerns being ignored and a toxic work environment. Reviews on platforms like Indeed and Glassdoor highlight concerns about management's lack of engagement, and lack of investment in frontline services whilst expanding staff numbers at the Scottish SPCA Head Quarters. This had led to concerns of animal care being compromised due to understaffing, poor pay and a culture of bullying.  

Controversy Over Wildlife Crime Powers Taskforce.

In early 2023, the Scottish SPCA's involvement in a taskforce aimed at expanding its powers to investigate wildlife crimes drew criticism. Conservationists expressed concerns over potential bias, noting the exclusion of certain conservation groups from the taskforce, which could undermine the objectivity of its recommendations.

Relationship with RSPCA.

The Scottish SPCA is often confused with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA). Although the two societies both work with animal welfare, the RSPCA operates only in England and Wales while the Scottish SPCA covers Scotland. Both charities are entirely separate from each other. The RSPCA has been criticised by the Scottish SPCA for fund-raising in Scotland and thereby "stealing food from the mouths of animals north of the border by taking donations intended for Scotland". The RSPCA insists that it does not deliberately advertise in Scotland but that many satellite channels only enabled the organisation to purchase UK-wide advertising.[5]

In a statement, the RSPCA said it went "to great lengths" to ensure wherever possible that adverts were not distributed outside England and Wales. It said: "Every piece of printed literature, television advertising and internet banner advertising always features the wording 'The RSPCA is a charity registered in England and Wales'". "All Scottish donors, who contact us via RSPCA fundraising campaigns, are directed to the Scottish SPCA so that they can donate to them if they so wish."[6] A memorandum was signed between the Scottish SPCA and the RSPCA that any legacies left to the "Scottish RSPCA" or "RSPCA Scotland" would, unless evidence existed to the contrary, be given to the Scottish SPCA.[citation needed]

The Scottish SPCA changed its logo in 2005 to make a clearer distinction between itself and the RSPCA in an attempt to prevent legacies being left to its English & Welsh equivalent by mistake when the Scottish charity was intended

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Sutherland, Ian. "150 years on, SSPCA tackles identity crisis". The Glasgow Herald. p. 13. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  2. ^ "Contact Us | SSPCA".
  3. ^ "About the Scottish SPCA". Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Specialist Reporting Agencies" (PDF). www.copfs.gov.uk. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  5. ^ "Animal groups in bitter cash row". 3 February 2009. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  6. ^ Carrell, Severin; correspondent, Scotland (3 February 2009). "SSPCA and RSPCA in row over funds 'poaching'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 11 January 2018. {{cite news}}: |last2= has generic name (help)
  7. ^ "BBC NEWS | UK | Scotland | Animal groups in bitter cash row". news.bbc.co.uk. 3 February 2009. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
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