The Animal Welfare Act 2006 came into force on the 27th March 2007 in Wales and the 6th April 2007 in England.
The Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 came into force in April 2007.
The Acts also cover the sale of animals to people under 16 years, dog fighting, tail docking and more. Please follow the links below for further information on these.
Until recently animal welfare legislation meant that prosecution was only possible when actual cruelty or unnecessary suffering was experienced. These Acts strengthen 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 as they introduce a duty of care on anyone who owns or is in charge of an animal.
The RSPCA (or Scottish SPCA in Scotland) is the only organisation that deals solely with animal cruelty. The RPSCA is able to prosecute owners but has no other powers. The Scottish SPCA refers cases to the Procurator Fiscal and can remove animals if they are being mistreated. Please call the RSPCA 24 hour national cruelty and advice line on 0300 1234 999 or the Scottish SPCA on 0870 73 77722.
The Acts are currently primary (enabling) legislation and Dogs Trust is continuing to work with government on secondary legislation and codes of practice.
Dogs Trust has produced an easy guide to the dog specific parts of the Acts: you can download this. Alternatively, email us.
For more information please visit the websites of the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs or the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department.