New law means better
protection for vulnerable animals
Last November, the Animal Welfare Bill
received Royal Assent and is now the Animal
Welfare Act. In effect from 6 April 2007,
these new laws represent the biggest change in
Animal Welfare Law for nearly one hundred
years.
Until now, those responsible for pets could
only be prosecuted for cruelty once cruelty
had occurred. The new laws have introduced,
for the first time, a legal duty which
requires pet owners to provide for their pets’
needs. These include:
·A
proper diet (food and water)
·Somewhere suitable to live
·Any need to be housed with, or apart, from
other animals
·The opportunity to express normal behaviour
·Protection from pain, suffering, injury and
disease
The new laws will also increase the penalties
for those who commit the most serious offences
of cruelty against animals.
Charity No: 203644
‘Cats Protection’ Support
There is power under the new laws for making
regulations and codes of practice for various
aspects of animal welfare. It is anticipated
that a code of practice and regulation of
‘Animal Sanctuaries’ will be introduced in
2009/2010. ‘Cats Protection’ will be a part of
the DEFRA Working Group on ‘Animal
Sanctuaries’, details of which are currently
being clarified.
The 54 page Animal Welfare Act
and further information relating to the Act can be viewed and downloaded from the
DEFRA
website.
