The most significant companion animal welfare legislation for nearly a Century

The UK’s largest dog welfare charity, Dogs Trust is welcoming the new Animal Welfare Act that is due to take effect in England and Wales from Friday 6th April, 2007.

2006 saw the passing into law of two new pieces of animal welfare legislation – the Animal Welfare Act 2006 which applies to England and Wales and the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, that came into effect in October 2006.  While the welfare elements of the Acts are broadly similar, there are some significant differences.  The Northern Ireland legislation has yet to be defined. 

The Acts are the most significant animal welfare legislation for nearly a century.  They modernise welfare legislation and among other things introduce a duty of care on owners and keepers of vertebrate animals.  Thus people are legally obliged to ensure the welfare of the animals in their care.  The Acts will reduce animal suffering by enabling preventative action to be taken, by those responsible for the enforcement of welfare laws, before suffering actually occurs.

The Acts will simplify legislation for enforcers and animal keepers by consolidating over 20 pieces of legislation into one.  They will deter persistent offenders by strengthening penalties and eliminating many loopholes in the current system.

Dogs Trust has been involved in the consultation of the Act during its passage through parliament with the Government, Members of Parliament and other Animal Welfare charities over the last five years.

The charity supports the main concepts of the Act, such as the Duty of Care which makes responsible dog ownership a legal entity and (in England and Wales) the removal of a dog’s tail an offence, unless it is for medical treatment.  Sadly this is not the case if the dog is a certified working dog and is less than 5 days old.

Clarissa Baldwin, Dogs Trust Chief Executive, comments:

“We have very high hopes for this long awaited Act, particularly the duty of care, which will provide a much greater protection to the welfare of the 6.5 million dogs in the UK.  

Chris Laurence, Dogs Trust Veterinary Director, says:

“While the Animal Welfare Act brings a lot of good news, unfortunately in England and Wales, there has not been a complete ban on the cruel practice of tail docking.  There is overwhelming evidence that docking dogs’ tails is unnecessary, causes pain and suffering, and deprives them of a natural form of canine expression and we are hoping that this is something that maybe looked at in more detail during the secondary legislation implementation.”

The Animal Welfare Act is currently primary legislation.  Secondary legislation, which will detail specifics regarding this law, and Codes of Practice, will follow.  For details of this please do contact the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) 08459 335577 – www.defra.gov.uk

ENDS

Clarissa Baldwin and Chris Laurence are available for interview.

For further information, images or interviews, please contact:

Claire Waters-Duke  Dogs Trust press office
020 7833 7616  claire.watersduke@dogstrust.org.uk

Sharon Hatt   Dogs Trust press office
020 7833 7620  sharon.hatt@dogstrust.org.uk

Or visit out online press office at www.dogstrust.org.uk

Dogs Trust is working towards the day when all dogs can enjoy a happy life, free from the threat of unnecessary destruction.