Sanders Welcomes Animal Welfare Debate

Local MP, Adrian Sanders, is today welcoming the Animal Welfare Bill which will be debated in the Commons on Tuesday 10 January.

The Government Bill will, for the first time, require owners to properly care for their pets and hopefully prevent thousands of animals from suffering ongoing neglect.

Once enacted, the Animal Welfare Bill will make it a legal obligation for owners to ensure their pets are well nourished, receive veterinary treatment if sick or injured, and are kept in an appropriate environment.

Adrian said:

“Every day I receive correspondence from constituents regarding animal welfare, it is an issue which is important to local people and the Bill reflects demand for greater protection for our wildlife and pets.”

Each year, RSPCA inspectors have to watch in frustration and sadness as the serious neglect of thousands of pets at risk turns into suffering. Although the owner can face prosecution once suffering [as defined by a law dating back to 1911] it is often too late to save the animal from death or lasting injury.

Adrian commented:

“Animal welfare organisations such as the RSPCA are delighted with the new welfare offence to help combat the dreadful neglect they see on a daily basis,”

“I will be voting to ensure that the Animal Welfare Bill reaches our statute books swiftly to help prevent the serious ongoing neglect too many of our pets have been allowed to endure.”

As well as the welfare offence, the Animal Welfare Bill will increase penalties for those found guilty of inflicting the most serious cruelty on animals.

Further issues likely to be debated during the Bill’s passage through Parliament are whether the docking of dog’s tails for non-therapeutic purposes should be banned, and whether circuses should still be allowed to employ wild animals in their acts.