Memorandum submitted by the National Animal
Sanctuary Alliance
1. We represent over 130 animal sanctuaries
in the UK. Many of our members have made their views known to
us with regards to the licensing of animal sanctuaries.
2. Whilst most would not mind some form
of licensing, they are worried primarily about the cost of such
a licence.
3. We question absolutely why sanctuaries
who provide a valuable public service should be required to pay
a licence fee at all—they are not commercial establishments
and are an asset to their communities.
4. The requirement to have a licence and
work with local authorities is absolutely fine—some of our
members would have reservations if a competing charitable body
were to have any enforcement powers, but seem OK about local authority
licensing without cost.
5. In the draft bill the total cost to sanctuaries
is estimated at under £100,000 in direct licensing costs—with
such a huge public benefit by sanctuaries, we think there should
be an amendment to this Bill that would remove the financial burden
from sanctuaries but keep the licensing requirement. If the government
wants licensing, then it should meet the financial cost, not the
sanctuaries contributing to their local communities in such a
major way.
6. Please consider that a fee of £184
may not seem a lot, but to even a larger sanctuary, that represents
3-4 neutering of animals to prevent future problems for the community.
Any financial drain on sanctuaries will be at the detriment of
animal welfare as this money cannot then be spent where it is
needed—on the animals.
7. Finally, we have the authority of our
members to lobby all MPs and Peers about this issue and the media
as we feel sanctuaries would have much public support in their
request to be exempt from commercial fees for licensing.
2 August 2004
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