Post by angelad on Sept 4, 2011 20:06:25 GMT
The New Animal Welfare Act 2006 is now effective in England and Wales, while Scotland has the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006. A key part of this new law is the ‘Duty of Care’ that all owners and keepers of pet animals must follow.
Not only is it against the law to be cruel to an animal, you must also ensure that all the welfare needs of your animals are met.
What does the Animal Welfare Act do?
It makes owners and keepers responsible for ensuring that the welfare needs of their animals are met.
These include the need:
Anyone who is cruel to an animal, or does not provide for its welfare needs, may be banned from owning animals, fined up to £20,000 and/or sent to prison.
Until recently animal welfare legislation meant that prosecution was only able to be made when actual cruelty or suffering was experienced. The Animal Welfare Act strengthens penalties for anyone convicted of an animal welfare offence, as well as giving law enforcement agencies the power to take action to prevent animal suffering before it has a chance to occur.
What do I need to do?
•As a dog keeper, you are responsible at all times for your pet’s welfare, even if they are left in someone else’s care for periods of time.
• Find out how to take proper care of your pet - including their diet, exercise, behavioural and social needs. Ask your vet for information and advice.
• You have to keep your dog healthy, from managing their weight to vet care when needed. Remember that regular vaccinations, worming and treatement for parasites like fleas is a vital part of any dog’s health care.
• Don’t leave your dog in a car or tied up outside a shop as this can cause unnecessary suffering – which is an offence under the Act
• Make sure that your dog is clearly identified with a collar and tag at all times and is microchipped for additional safety.
Please visit the Dogs’ Trust website for further information on the Act.
The Welsh Assembly has published a Code of Practice which gives advice on how to meet your dogs needs as laid down by the Welfare Act.Please click the link HERE
.
Not only is it against the law to be cruel to an animal, you must also ensure that all the welfare needs of your animals are met.
What does the Animal Welfare Act do?
It makes owners and keepers responsible for ensuring that the welfare needs of their animals are met.
These include the need:
- for a suitable environment (place to live)
- for a suitable diet
- to exhibit normal behaviour patterns
- to be housed with, or apart from, other animals (if applicable)
- to be protected from pain, injury, suffering and disease. Suffering can be either mental or physical, and a dog owner can be found guilty of causing harm to an animal by the things they do or the things they don’t do. Even if someone doesn’t know that their actions could cause suffering, they still can be prosecuted.
- The law also increases to 16 the minimum age at which a person can buy an animal and prohibits giving animals as prizes to unaccompanied children under this age.
Anyone who is cruel to an animal, or does not provide for its welfare needs, may be banned from owning animals, fined up to £20,000 and/or sent to prison.
Until recently animal welfare legislation meant that prosecution was only able to be made when actual cruelty or suffering was experienced. The Animal Welfare Act strengthens penalties for anyone convicted of an animal welfare offence, as well as giving law enforcement agencies the power to take action to prevent animal suffering before it has a chance to occur.
What do I need to do?
•As a dog keeper, you are responsible at all times for your pet’s welfare, even if they are left in someone else’s care for periods of time.
• Find out how to take proper care of your pet - including their diet, exercise, behavioural and social needs. Ask your vet for information and advice.
• You have to keep your dog healthy, from managing their weight to vet care when needed. Remember that regular vaccinations, worming and treatement for parasites like fleas is a vital part of any dog’s health care.
• Don’t leave your dog in a car or tied up outside a shop as this can cause unnecessary suffering – which is an offence under the Act
• Make sure that your dog is clearly identified with a collar and tag at all times and is microchipped for additional safety.
Please visit the Dogs’ Trust website for further information on the Act.
The Welsh Assembly has published a Code of Practice which gives advice on how to meet your dogs needs as laid down by the Welfare Act.Please click the link HERE
.