Companion Animals

The Animal Welfare Act 2006

Local Authorities are responsible for the enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which came into force in Wales on 27th March 2007 and applies to pet animals including dogs, cats, rabbits, reptiles and horses, amongst others.

Until recently, animal welfare legislation meant that prosecution was only able to be made when actual cruelty or suffering was experienced. The Animal Welfare Act 2006 gives law enforcement agencies the power to take action to prevent animal suffering before it has a chance to occur. It also increases the minimum age at which a person can buy an animal to 16 and prohibits giving animals as prizes to unaccompanied children under this age.

The needs of your animal

The Animal Welfare Act makes owners and keepers of pets responsible for ensuring that the welfare needs of their animals are met. These include the need:

• for a suitable environment (a place to live)
• for a suitable diet
• to be able to exhibit their normal behaviour patterns
• to be housed with or apart from other animals (if applicable)
• to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease

Any person who is cruel to an animal, or fails to provide for its welfare needs, may be banned from keeping animals, fined up to £20,000 and/or sent to prison.

Codes of Practice

As guidance for owners, Codes of Practice for the Welfare of Cats, Dogs, Rabbits and Equines have been made available.  These provide advice on how to meet the needs your animal.

Amended Codes of Practice for the Welfare of Livestock are now available.

Education

The Welsh Assembly Government has given Local Authorities extra responsibilities to deliver an education plan, to highlight the importance of Animal Welfare. This will involve officers attending community awareness days, supermarkets, schools, youth groups, shows and events to deliver the message:

“You have a responsibility and a duty to your animals”

The Vale of Glamorgan Council is committed to the enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act and to the provision of education, advice and information on Animal Welfare throughout the Vale.