Administrative and licensing law specialist Scott Blair will chair the Animals and Wildlife Law Update Conference hosted by the Law Society of Scotland on 3rd April in Stirling.

Speaking to TFC, Scott said -“I was delighted to be approached by the Law Society to chair this event. I am passionate about animal welfare. This important event is timely, coming as it does at an important stage in the modernisation of our law and practice. We have also been really fortunate to secure a panel of expert speakers from a wide field of experience.”

The new Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Powers and Protections) Bill indicates an increase in penalties for animal and wildlife crime, introduction of fixed penalty notices, extension of the time allowed for prosecutions and an increase in the protection for service animals as well as wider powers on the seizure of welfare-compromised animals. The proposed changes will affect a wide variety of practitioners who advise local authorities, wildlife and domestic animal organisations, those accused of rural and wildlife crimes, rural parties and landed estates, local government and environmental agencies.

In addition other related areas of law will be covered, including the proposed changes to the licensing of dog-breeding and the proposed ban on the third party sale of puppies and kittens.

This event, the first of its kind in Scotland, will cover the main features of the Bill and other crossover issues such as transportation and Brexit frameworks, licensing, criminal law, rural, local government and environmental law practice.

The event has been accredited for 4 hours CPD. For further information and to book your place at this event, please follow this link.