Memorandum submitted by Watford Animal
Group
We are pleased that the Government has published
the draft Animal Welfare Bill. Thank you for inviting our response.
We welcome:
1. The duty of care and the recognition
that an action is likely to cause suffering.
2. The prohibition of sales of animals to
under 16s and the giving of animals as prizes.
3. The prohibition of mutilations, but regret
the exemptions: farmed animals, working animals (involved in hunting)
and all laboratory animals which are excluded anyway; pressure
from the Kennel Club and dog breeders must be resisted, though
the ban will, hopefully, be supported by vets.
4. The greater powers given to inspectors
and the police.
5. Higher penalties which must be rigorously
enforced.
6. The licensing of animal sanctuaries and
improved legislation for riding schools, dog and cat boarding
kennels, pet shops and fairs; licences appear realistic and attainable.
7. The new offence of making or distributing
recordings of animal fights and strengthening existing offences
prohibiting betting on and advertising animal fights.
8. Costs that are not burdensome and will
please waverers in Government.
9. That parliamentary time spent now is
well worth the long-term benefit (100 years); this will facilitate
other future governmental policies.
We are disappointed by:
1. No tighter legislation for the conditions
in which all farmed animals, including game birds, are kept.
2. The failure to prohibit animal acts in
circuses.
3. The great incongruity in the exemptions
in the Bill; it is hypocrisy to recognise a cruel and punishable
act in one group of animals and yet to condone the same within
another group, eg companion animals, farmed animals, hunted animals
(in spite of promised Hunting Bill pending) and laboratory animals
(especially when alternative and cheaper methods are available).
4. No specific legislation for the proposed
phasing out of the docking of the tails of farmed animals; in
these circumstances can we be sure it will happen?
We are concerned that:
1. The Government is relying on the charity
sector for inspectors; perhaps an allowance could be made to the
charity concerned, and to alleviate the shortage of inspectors
(should the present status quo continue) perhaps a Jobseeker award
for suitable personnel to work as back-up for existing inspectors.
2. Codes of practice need to be more specific,
with definite consequences.
3. It will be difficult to ensure uniform
application of the Bill across the various regional authorities.
Finally, Margaret Beckett uses, in the foreword
to the Bill, the questionable statement "We have a deserved
reputation in this country as a nation of animal lovers".
Perhaps she should refer to Austrian animal welfare legislation,
which appears to leave much wanting in the Defra Bill!
August 2004
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