Posted on 04/29/2002 5:59:42 PM PDT by 2Trievers
BRITAIN’S pets are set to get their own “bill of rights”. Ministers are planning legislation that would guarantee cats, dogs and other pets a minimum quality of life.
Under the rules owners could be prosecuted if they failed to give pets what they needed — ranging from adequate food and water to enough space and companionship.
The legislation would be the biggest change in Britain’s animal welfare rules for almost a century. It could include codes of conduct for owners of cats, dogs, horses, rabbits and birds.
The RSPCA, which is working with the government on the changes, has already drawn up provisional standards.
Elliot Morley, an environment minister who is drawing up the proposals, will make a speech on Tuesday outlining possible recommendations. He will say that animal welfare legislation, which dates back to 1911, is out of date.
“We need to modernise the law by setting minimum standards for the animals in our care. We have an obligation to treat animals in the way that a civilised society expects,” he said.
The most important change is expected to be the creation of a new offence of treating animals in a way “likely to cause suffering”. At present animal owners can be prosecuted only once an animal is clearly suffering. Under the proposed law, police and the RSPCA could prosecute owners if it were believed they had broken the accepted standards for that species.
Cat owners could be prosecuted for cooping up pets and not giving them the chance to roam in a garden. Budgie owners who confine birds in small cages or keep them on their own might be prosecuted, too.
The debate will centre on how far the government is prepared to go to protect pets. The RSPCA wants “five freedoms” to be adopted for all pets and circus animals. It believes they should be entitled to:
Frank Widdowson, the RSPCA’s director of legal services, said: “There should be a ‘duty of care’ so that anyone in charge of an animal has a legal responsibility to meet these standards.”
Morley said he accepted the basic principles but the final form of the bill was yet to be decided: “These criteria have been discussed by government advisers. They are widely accepted and easily understood.”
Just as I would forego my needs for the well-being of my daughters when they were little, so too would I do it for my pets and my livelihood.
I, for one, salute all the decent veterinarians I've worked with over the years and also the others around the country I am not acquainted with....y'all are truly one of man's best friends.
Are apartment tenants and condominium owners forbidden from having cats? BTW, I once got a harness for my cat and tried to take him for a walk so he'd get some fresh air. Was more like taking him for a 'drag'--he didn't like it one bit.
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