Record number of children referred to scheme to prevent animal cruelty

A record number of children have taken part in a Scottish SPCA scheme that aims to help young people who have shown tendencies to be cruel to animals.

Said to be the first of its kind in the UK, the Animal Guardians programme is an early-intervention initiative designed to prevent animal cruelty by fostering compassion and empathy in young people aged three to 16.

Those referred to the scheme include children who have physically harmed or killed an animal or behaved uncaringly, such as teasing an animal or cutting its fur or whiskers.

The programme supported 27 children and young people in June, making it the busiest month since the initiative began in 2018.

Since the scheme launched, more than 300 children from across Scotland have been directed to it, with referrals coming from educational establishments, health and social care professionals, parents and carers, Scottish SPCA inspectors, and third-sector children’s organisations.

Susan Witton, Animal Guardians youth engagement officer, said: “Animal Guardians is about prevention and protection – for both animals and children.

“We’re seeing clear evidence that with the right support, young people can learn compassion and emotional control that stays with them for life.”

The Scottish SPCA said in one recent case, a four-year-old was observed tormenting the family dog – pulling its tail, disturbing its sleep, and mimicking aggressive behaviour.

After a health visitor raised concerns, a Scottish SPCA youth engagement officer worked with the child over eight sessions, encouraging empathy and gentle handling through the use of soft toy animals, praise, and structured play.

The parent, who joined the final session, later reported a marked improvement, saying the child no longer disturbs the dog while sleeping and had even reminded the parent to “use gentle hands” when interacting with the pet.

Last year, 102 children completed Animal Guardians – a 44% increase on 2023.

In the first half of 2025, 52 young people have already participated, a 7% year-to-date increase.

The Scottish SPCA said it is not known why June saw a record number of participants, but that it may be due to growing awareness of the programme and stronger partnerships with external agencies.

The University of Edinburgh is carrying out an ongoing evaluation of the scheme, which now operates in 90% of Scottish local authorities.

A study published in February by Professor Jo Williams and her research team at the university found children who participated in Animal Guardians showed significantly greater improvements than those in the control group in areas such as animal welfare knowledge, behaviour towards animals, and both cognitive and behavioural empathy.

As the summer holidays begin, the Scottish SPCA is encouraging families to behave in a safe and respectful manner when around animals and wildlife.

The charity is urging adults to supervise children during interactions with animals, whether in the home, neighbourhood or wider community.