The Animal Welfare Act

The Animal Welfare Act 2007

On 6th of April 2007, the new Animal Welfare Act came into force -  the first big change in animal welfare laws for 94 years and hailed as a 'Bill of Rights' for Animals.

The Animal Welfare Act was brought in to make owners responsible for ensuring that their animals' welfare needs are met.

These include:-

• The need for a suitable habitat/environment according to its species
• A suitable diet
• The necessity to be able to exhibit normal behavioural patterns
• The need to be housed with, or apart from, other animals (according to its needs)
• The right to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease

The law increased the age at which a person can buy an animal from 12 to 16, and made giving animals as prizes to unaccompanied minors under 16 prohibited.

The penalties for animal abuse or not providing for an animal's needs were increased, and prosecuted offenders can now expect to be banned from owning animals, receive sentences of up to one year in jail and/or fines of up to £20,000.

The R.S.P.C.A. have long been able to prosecute offenders after the abuse or neglect has happened, however, with the introduction of the new law, the R.S.P.C.A. will be able to take remedial action before an animal is abused.  Although the workload of R.S.P.C.A. officers is bound to increase, this is a change that is very welcome.

To find out how the new law affects you, visit DEFRA's website by clicking here

To report a case of animal cruelty, phone the R.S.P.C.A. Cruelty Line on 0870 55 55 99