Draft Animal Welfare Bill issued today.  Contrary to recent reports it apparently does not contain any prohibitions on squishing slugs!

The Defra information page on it is here

Have not had time to read it all yet - only 102 pages"

Have now skimmed though most of it and the associated notes.

Looks like the police and RSPCA will have more powers to remove dogs that are or may be at risk of, suffering, although they will need a warrant to enter a private dwelling unless it is urgent when they can come in anyway.

Tail docking will probably be banned except for some of the sporting breeds

Plus a lot more

Have a look and see what you think

I haven't had time to look at it properly, but more power to the police and the RSPCA has to be a good thing!! :)

It does not look as if electric collars are going to be banned though :( .

Lindsay
X

I did not add the "Important" to the heading - it was edited :D

BUT ... I must admit I am surprised at the lack of comment/interest? in this draft bill when it could affect any of us pet owners at any time

I have mixed views on this; one of the recent adverts for this from the RSPCA used the the did you know chocolate was poisonous to dogs for their Duty of Care angle; I can see that this bill could conceivably create more problems than it is meant to solve in many ways and could be seen as somewhat draconian in some circumstances.

Have scanned through the consultation document and on pg111 onwards it gives the responses by the doggy organisations. There seems to be a consensus of opinion that e collars should be banned. Lets hope that whoever draws up the Act takes note of opinion and does.

What we need to remember though is that all this could still take years! The draft will go before parliament in September for the first reading. Then it'll go through all the usual readings and amendings and votings before a bill is agreed and then it needs to receive royal approval before it can come into force. All this could take as much as 18months or more if they drag their feet.
Whilst a quicker response would be wonderful we don't want them to rush it and make a huge cock up like they did with certain other acts.

I've just skimmed through it, with out reading and digesting it all, I'm not sure I should comment, but I wonder whether the RSPCA should be given more powers, they are after all just an animal welfare organisation, surely its the police who should have the powers, with the RSPCA in a support role.

Didn't know it was out yet will go and look thanks for posting this.

Well, i've skimmed through most of it. I'm still trying to digest it all ;)

Lindsay
X

Im sitting on the fence on this one.....

On the face of it, it should be a good thing, animal welfare needs to be brought up to date, and im hoping that the penalties for cruelty to animals will reflect the crime committed, rather than just a smack on the wrists.

On the other hand, and i dont really want to turn this thread into another RSPCA slanging match, they are well known for abusing the powers they already have, and if they arent doing that, they seem to be doing nowt at all.

Im sure select individuals who work for them try their hardest, but their knowledge of animals is shocking (i cant fathom out how someone could confuse a terrapin with a tortoise and drown the latter by thinking it the former!), and i can see certainly, people who have just taken on rescue animals in poor conditions, being reported by over zealous neighbours/neighbours iwth an axe to grind, and having their pets taken off them.

The RSPCA seems to have NO one to answer to, and that being the case, i think its very dangerous to give them more power!

Em

I think that on the whole this bill is a welcome piece of legislation. I am particularly pleased that there are to be tighter restictions on pet shops and other outlets where animals can be sold. I think that putting a spotlight on the racing greyhound fraternity is long overdue and we all know that there is a need for more stringent regulations on dog breeding to try and stamp out the puppy farmers.

I reallly think that this is the ideal opportunity for the Kennel Club to put it's money where it's mouth is and be seen to be actively involved IN PARTNERSHIP with the welfare societies to regulate the dog world. Their accredited breeders scheme is a good start but a refusal to accept registrations from those who are obviously puppy farming would be of greater help. Yes I know that the RSPCA sometimes get things wrong but we do need an animal welfare organisation with muscle to enforce responsible behaviour and they generally do an effective job. They would of course be even more effective if other well respected bodies worked with them.

Yvonne

They are discussing this on BBC1 in a minute if anyone is still up.

But you didn't miss much if you aren't

Tighter control on pet shops? Exactly what is tighter control, to not allow children under 16 to purchase a pet and to make the suggestion that all staff selling animals must have training in animal welfare. Whoopee!  I guess it is astart but it does not go far enough.
The Animal Welfare Bill could go much further and could do much better particualry in respect of puppies and dogs. Did you  read the initial draft copy when they were inviting organisations for their imput?  I did and the reason I did was for one particular reason alone, to see how many organisations were concerned with the welfare of dogs and puppies, particulary relating puppy farming and the selling of puppies from retail outlets. As far as I could see there were none, that is appalling.(yes I did write an essay on this issue) why did no one else or maybe you did and like myself you are a drop in the ocean but why?
I get so cross we are so supposed to be a nation of dog lovers yet we as a nation continue to allow puppies to be bred indescriminately and sold in pet shops by the thousands. These puppies, that have been bred on unlicensed puppy farms in Ireland and both Licensed and unlicensed puppy farms in Wales, no one seems to care about them other than the committed few and I can count their names on one hand. These puppies  are transported in any old vehicle or any carrier, yes, they are supposed to be licensed by Defra, none are. The dealers then sort out the puppies, mix them up and sell them on again to the pet shops. Yes, some are KC reg, some IKC others  Dog Lovers UK, some just a pedigree, the paperwork gets mixed. some puppies are vaccinated at the breeding site by the breeder some when the get to the pet shop, some just a parvo some a 7 in 1, some when sold to the purchaser get revaccinated even though they have already been full or partially vaccinated because the vet cannot trust the vaccination certificate as being authentic. Some poor pups arrive at the pet shop at 6 weeks or younger although they should not leave the breeder until 8 weeks if the breeder is Licensed, many are not, who cares? Name tag of breeder should be on pup when sold most are nameless. Some having arrived at 6 weeks have due to the pet shop licence conditions have to stay on the premises for 7/10 days before comming up for sale, the idea behind this is, that if they are harbouring disease the pet shop will have the responsibilty and not the purchaser. What a joke so many are ill that they do not reach the for sale date, fall ill and die or put to sleep or worse. The lucky ones if you can call it lucky, may after a wait of weeks get sold. Then what? so many become sick others have hereditary problems others poor little mites are just born, have a rotten start in life on a puppy farm, bought by a dealer, transported hundreds of miles in all weathers and conditions to be sold, then become ill, then die. What a wicked lot we are to allow this trade to continue the way it does. I have known of Newfoundlands still waiting to be sold at 16 weeks, a giant breed in a pet shop? Yes and KC reg too a breeder from Wales. 
Can you explain to me why the puppy trade has such a lack of interest by animal welfare groups, come to that the general public too unless they have purchased a sick puppy? What about the people that write on message boards, this one for instance why do you appear to have none or little interest in puppy farming or pet shops selling puppies after all your interest is dogs and puppies or do you only care about your own or dog shows?
These breeding bitches on puppy farms are the unfortunate ones, like the stray and impounded dogs, cross bred too dogs, is their welfare of no concern? If you do not have or show concerns then how can we expect the Government and DEFRA who is responsible for all animal welfare issues to think there is a problem that needs addressing if no one advises them to the contrary? Come on, think about this issue and ways that you can encourage DEFRA to not allow puppies to be sold from pet shops.  If pet shops did not sell puppies then the puppy farmers would not have them to sell their puppies to, it could have a knock on effect on them too.
This is big business, a trade but it is unregulated in respect of the welfare of the animals because no one is responsible for inspecting the dogs that are bred from or the puppies that are sold. What sort of trade is that, apart from the consumer issue on another thread there is the animal welfare issue and the human health issue these little pups are often sold with worms, lice, fleas, parvo, gastro enteritis and various other diseases effecting both canine and humans alike sometimes severe temperament problems develop as the puppy matures. Is this right that they should be sold in this condition to go into homes with babies and young children? Think about it please and if you feel the same as I do then please write your comments to DEFRA, it is never too late.
Not all Countries in Europe allow puppies to be sold from pet shops, then why do we?  As an animal loving country should we not be saying this should not be allowed, the situation is getting worse not better. Why cannot we all be an united voice together on this issue there are enough dog owners in the UK you should all be shouting loud and clear with one voice on this issue or is there really no concern at all for the breeding bitches and puppies caught up in this wicked trade?                       

I agree with you, the trade in puppies to pet shops is utterly and unspeakably vile. The stress and risk to the poor things is appalling, and I do so wish there was a way to stop it. But I think (I may be wrong) that you are mistaken in one fact, when you say:
<<Some poor pups arrive at the pet shop at 6 weeks or younger although they should not leave the breeder until 8 weeks if the breeder is Licensed>>

Doesn't the Law state that licenced breeders may only sell pups under 8 weeks of age to licenced pet shops? In other words, they are not allowed to sell a puppy direct to its new owner under 8 weeks, but can transport them to a dealer/middleman at less than that age? Which to me is completely the wrong way about.

You are, of course, entirely correct about the flauting of the regulations concerning ID. The lip-service paid to this aspect is laughable - or would be if it wasn't such a tragedy.

But it is very unfair, and untrue, to say that people on this site don't care about the situation. There are posts, time and time again, about how the public should not buy a puppy from a pet shop. Or from an ad in the local free-press where umpteen breeds are listed. The natonal campaigns have been running for years. But people only hear what they want to hear. Until it's too late.