Animal Welfare Act 2006
When does the new law come into effect?
Since 6 April 2007 animal welfare laws have been changed
to improve safety to animals' wellbeing. It is still against
the law to be cruel to an animal, and now you must also ensure that
all the welfare needs of your animals are met.
What does the new law do?
The Animal Welfare
Act 2006 makes owners and keepers responsible for ensuring that
the welfare needs of their animals are met.
These include the need:
· For a suitable environment (place to live)
· For a suitable diet
· To exhibit normal behaviour patterns
· To be housed with, or apart from, other animals (if
applicable)
· To be protected from pain, injury, suffering and
disease
The law also 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 Animal Welfare Act 2006 is available from
the DEFRA
website.
Related information
> Animal welfare and dog control service
standards