Information, Education & Advice - helping dogs in need
Information, Education & Advice - helping dogs in need
New animal welfare codes of practice for dog, cat and horse owners with practical advice on how best to look after their pets’ health and wellbeing were published today.
The codes provide owners and keepers with information on how to meet the welfare needs of their animals, as required under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 which was introduced in April 2007.
Although it will not be an offence to fail to comply with the Codes of Practice they could be used as evidence in court to support a case of poor welfare brought under the Animal Welfare Act which may lead to a prosecution for animal cruelty. The codes apply to England only (Wales and Scotland have their own equivalent codes).
Animal welfare organisations and vets helped Defra draw up the codes of practice for dogs, cats and equines, designed to give people information about pet care including diet and exercise, and to explain owners’ and keepers’ legal duties to their animals.
Animal Welfare Minister Jim Fitzpatrick unveiled the new booklets on a visit to a Dogs Trust re-homing centre in London to back the charity’s Christmas campaign to reduce the number of dogs given as gifts in December that are abandoned soon after.
Jim Fitzpatrick said:
“We’re a nation of animal lovers, but sadly too many people still don’t know how to look after their pets properly and get things wrong. It’s the animals who suffer as a result.
In 2008 the RSPCA gave out advice to help improve the welfare of more than 107,000 animals.
The new Codes of Practice contain clear and straightforward advice, supported by organisations including the RSPCA, Dogs Trust, PDSA, British Veterinary Association and British Horse Society, and they don’t place any new requirements on owners and keepers. They are designed to explain to people their responsibility and legal duty of care to their pets, and to help protect animals from pain, injury and disease.”
For more information go to:
www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/cruelty/index.htm
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