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Good news for animals - the law relating to pets is changing this year!
The Animal Welfare Act, which was passed by Parliament in 2006, will be the most significant piece of animal welfare legislation for nearly 100 years.
The RSPCA welcomes the change in law, which will provide much greater protection for animals. Under current law, people responsible for pets can only be prosecuted for cruelty once suffering has occured, and when it is often too late to save the animal from death or lasting injury.
The Animal Welfare Act includes a new welfare offence, which will for the first time protect thousands of animals from enduring serious ongoing neglect each year, by legally obliging owners to care for their pets properly.
Although the primary elements of the Act have been finalised, there are a number of issues - which are the subject of secondary legislation and codes of practice - which will continue to be considered in 2007, and beyond. This includes greyhound racing, animals in circuses, the sale of animals at pet shops and at pet fairs.
As well as increasing the penalties for those who inflict the most serious offences, the Animal Welfare Act makes it a legal requirement for pet owners to do what is reasonable to provide for their animal's needs. These are:
# a proper diet (food and water)
# somewhere suitable to live
# any need to be housed with or apart from other animals
# allowing them to express normal behaviour
# protection from pain, suffering, injury and disease.
The majority of pet owners will not need to change the way they care for their animals to comply with the new law when it comes into force in 2007 - most people already provide for their pet's needs. But the new law will help to tackle cases of ongoing neglect.
As guidance, the RSPCA has developed a series of pet care fact cards, which highlight some points pet owners need to consider.
