Animal Welfare & Legislation Flashcards
What is the primary animal welfare legislation?
Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006
What is a primary legislation called?
An act
What is a secondary legislation called?
A regulation/order
What are the 4 purposes of the act?
- to promote the welfare of animals and prevent harm and suffering
- introduce a duty of care on those responsible for the animal
- owners and keepers have a responsibility to ensure the five animal welfare needs are met as their duty of care
- any animals either suffering or in danger of suffering to be removed
What is the duty of care?
- owners have a duty of care to provide for their animals basic needs, such as adequate food and water, veterinary treatment, and an appropriate environment in which to live
What are the 5 welfare needs?
- a suitable environment
- a suitable diet
- ability to exhibit normal behaviours
- ability to interact with other animals
- be protected from suffering, pain, injury and disease
What are the codes of practice?
- this is species-specific
- it is based upon the welfare needs and ensures the duty of care is met by anyone owning or caring for the species
What do the codes of practice exist for?
- dogs
- cats
- rabbits
- equine species
- pet travel scheme (includes dogs, cats, ferrets)
How do the codes of practice help to maintain the welfare standards?
- easily understandable
- considers all welfare needs
- specific to species
- accessible to most
- clear/concise information
- includes details regarding legislation relevant to the species
What is the Animal Welfare (sentience) Act 2022?
- it recognises the sentience and welfare needs of all vertebrates and some invertebrates
What does the Animal Welfare (sentience) Act 2022 enforce?
- it requires policy makers to consider animal sentience when creating or changing laws
- interests of animals must be considered when laws are made
What is included in the Protected Criteria?
- vertebrates
(mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish) - excludes animals in foetal or embryonic form
- under control of humans, on a temporary or permanent basis
- not living in wild states
Who is responsible for the welfare of animals?
- the animals owner
- can be shared with another owner (even temporarily)
- parents are if the person is under 16
- keepers in the workplace
- a number of people can be at any one time
What is unnecessary suffering?
- its an offence to cause a protected animal unnecessary suffering by any act or failure to act
What is also considered as an offence?
- where a person responsible for an animals fails to take reasonable steps to prevent another person from causing unnecessary suffering
What are the 7 offences under the act?
Neglect - to take reasonable steps to ensure welfare
Cause - a protected animal unnecessary suffering
Carry Out - mutilations or cruel operations
Administer - poisons
Abandon - an animal
Use - for fighting or as a prize
Sell - to children
What are reasons for abandonment?
- financial factors
- unwanted litters
- behavioural problems
- loss of interest
- lack of space or time
- relocation
- death or illness of owner
- allergies
- birth of child or divorce
- changes in legislation
How is animal fighting described?
- a prohibited animal fight is defined as a scenario where a protected animal is placed with an animal or human for the purpose of fighting, wrestling or baiting
In regards to animal fighting what are offences?
- to attend a fight
- to organise or bet on an animal fight
- to allow a premises to be used for a fight
- to possess animal fighting equipment
- to make a recording of a fight in the UK
What are the rules for sales of animals to children?
- an offence to sell an animal to someone under 16, however someone under 16 can own an animals
(allows them to enter shows)
What are the rules for using animals as prizes?
- is an offence for a person to offer or give another person an animal as a prize
What are prohibited procedures?
- is an offence to carry out a prohibited procedure on a protected animal
- also an offence if a person responsible for an animal fails to prevent another person from carrying out a prohibited procedure
What regulation do prohibited procedures fall under?
Prohibited Procedures on Protected Animals (exemptions) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2017
What is mutilation?
- interference with the sensitive tissues or bone structure of the animal
- tail docking or ear cropping
- medical treatment is excluded
