ANIMAL welfare is an emotive subject but one that is also amenable to reason. Accordingly, it is reasonable now to consider whether the maximum sentence for animal cruelty is sufficient. A growing number of people believe it is not.

In Scotland, the maximum jail sentence is one year. In Ireland and Northern Ireland, it is five years and, indeed, the evidence is clear that Scotland is lagging behind the rest of the world in this regard. In Germany and France, the maximum sentence is two and three years respectively; in Latvia five years; Finland four years; Queensland, Australia, seven years; Connecticut and Louisiana, in the US, 10 years.

We are not obliged to follow the example of others for its own sake, but it is becoming clear that our current “deterrent” does not deter and that it is disproportionately lenient – where it is implemented at all. The Scottish SPCA has found few sheriffs use, or are able to use, the maximum sentence. Last year, the charity’s many investigations resulted in just three jail sentences.

Yesterday, on the day Ayrshire pet shelter operator Zara Brown was given a seven-month sentence for horrific treatment of animals in her care, the Scottish SPCA called for a maximum jail sentence of five years. It is 11 years since the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act came into force. A review of its sentencing powers would now seem only reasonable.