Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Written evidence submitted by Barry Faust
The first thing that has to happen—and what I suggest, will put off 99% of people who buy animals but actually do not really want or care about them—is we should have nationwide licensing. This would not just be for a dog or a cat but for all pets. £100 for a licence. Why so high? Well you see it will have to pay for quite a few things, so the price, if you really want a pet, should be high. The licence would be renewed annually but for the following years the price would only be set at say £25 per year—the same as tax for your car really!
Now to obtain the animal you want you would have to satisfy a state registered (we don’t have these either) pet shop or licensed breeder you have the facilities, the know how and are able to pay for vets bills, food and ongoing care, leads, creams etc depending on the pet. This will be judged on a case by case basis. You will need to have the correct licence for the animal you want and to apply for that licence you will need to pass the application/test (ie confirming the size of your home and facilities and your knowledge for example).
You might be saying now that’s all well and good but what is to stop the breeder or shop as now, from selling to anybody to just make money? Well for one, they will be partially state owned or similar, so money won’t be the main driver but after care for the pet will. For two, the animal, if abused or not looked after properly, will have what only dogs will be having now and that’s a chip, this will be matched to the license of the breeder and the pet shop as well as the new owner so it will be very hard to evade this.
As mentioned, we will have to introduce state only breeders or specialist licensed breeders who satisfy certain criteria. For a start, all their animals must be able to be tracked from birth to death. Their license is only granted when their premises have been checked by a newly formed Animal Protection Officer which will compliment the work of the RSPCA and will give the APO’s the powers which RSPCA officers do not have. Power of arrest, break and enter to rescue animals etc, inspection of premises.
The license and the chip payments will pay for all this, the yearly reduction in animals being cared for by the state will also help, it costs the government thousands of pounds a year to do this so now that money can go toward funding the newly formed Animal Protection Unit which will sit under Defra.
It won’t stop everything but imagine this scenario; I am out and about with my Pitbull, with no chip (so bought illegally) and no license myself. Oops unlucky. APO/Police/RSPCA/Council suspect I have no licence or no chip, therefore no dog. If the Government and law insist on treating animals like property—and in law that is what they are—then I am afraid that when it comes to confiscation, I should be treated the same as if I do not have a licence or insurance for my car. No licence, no insurance, no car. It is no different.
Once all animals are being chipped and owners and breeders have licences, then the abusers and persons who use animals for their own ends will not bother to obtain licenses or chips which will mean instant removal of that animal. Once this starts happening, the word gets around and they just won’t bother. (Well the majority wont, you always get the hardcore and the plain thick.)
All we need then is stronger animal legislation, protection, penalties and for that we should look stateside—in particular New York City. I am led to believe their laws are some of the strongest in the world.
September 2012