Animal Welfare Act
This section is about one of the British Veterinary Association’s (BVA) current issues – we bring you the latest information about the Animal Welfare Act
Background
The Animal Welfare Acts came into force on
The new Act states that anyone responsible for an animal should take reasonable steps to ensure that the animal’s needs are met.
These needs include
- a suitable environment/place to live
- a suitable diet including fresh water
- the ability to exhibit normal behaviour
- housed, as appropriate, either with or apart from other animals
- protection from and treatment of pain, suffering, injury or disease
The new law increases to 16 the minimum age at which a person can buy an animal and prohibits giving animals as prizes to unaccompanied children under this age.
Anyone who is cruel to an animal, or does not provide for its welfare needs, may be banned from owning animals, fined up to £20,000 and/or sent to prison.
More information on the Acts
- The Animal Welfare Act 2006 (applies in England and Wales) is accompanied by explanatory notes
The new Act contained provision for the government and Parliament to make secondary legislation on specific issues including
- mutilations and tail docking
- guidance on the legal status of wing and web tagging
- racing greyhounds
- pet fairs and pet sales
- primates as pets
- wild animals in circuses
- game birds
What the BVA has done
The BVA has
Other advice
The BVA Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF) leaflet what makes my pet happy will help pet owners meet their duty of care responsibilities. The leaflet explains, for instance, what quality of life is, how it can be assessed and the role of the vet.
See also advice from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).
For information on the duty of care to horses Equine Health and Welfare Strategy for Great Britain
Import of Captive Wild Birds - including a statement supporting a permanent ban on the import of wild birds
BVA information on tail docking in dogs