Memorandum submitted by West Wales Animal
Aid
SUMMARY
We welcome this draft Bill, especially the proposed
duty of care provisions, improvement orders and national database.
However, in some respects we feel the Bill does not go far enough—and
regret several missed opportunities.
1. We are very concerned that the proposals
relating to animal sanctuaries are far too weak, especially regarding
smaller establishments. In our considerable experience the small
rescue enterprises are the most likely to get out of control,
and develop multiple problems with resulting animal suffering.
Large sanctuaries are more likely to be registered charities with
quite large numbers of people involved and visiting, but small
ones, often tucked away out of sight and with few visitors, present
an ongoing problem, and we are continually made aware of such
places. At the moment there seems that nothing can be done unless
there is sufficient evidence for prosecution. We recognise that
a major problem arises over the definition of "sanctuary",
but suggest a starting point comes when the owner goes public
and starts asking for financial help from the public. We suggest
that all such places should be licensed and inspected annually.
Registration and submitting veterinary reports every five years
is useless and will do nothing to address the problem. Also that
the costs of such inspections should be largely met by the local
authority as these are non-profit making operations often struggling
to survive. There are, it should be said, many good small rescue
organisations, providing a very useful service to the community,
and these would have nothing to fear from licensing, apart from
the cost.
2. We very much regret that the opportunity
to end the suffering of animals in travelling circuses has not
been taken, and urge you to rethink this. None of the provisions
3.4 of the Bill can be met in circuses and the large wild animals
in particular have a dreadful life by any standard. Could circus
owners not be told that in five (maybe) years the keeping of wild
animals will not be permitted, giving them time to dispose of
their animals?
3. Likewise the tethering of horses should
be banned for the above (2) reasons.
25 August 2004
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