ANIMAL WELFARE BILL

KEY BENEFITS

• The Bill will bring together and modernise most legislation concerning the welfare of animals in the control of man
• It will:
• extend to all those responsible for an animal the duty to take reasonable steps to ensure its welfare.  A similar duty currently only applies to farmed animals.
• modernise the definition of "cruelty"
• strengthen and re-define offences related to animal fighting
• impose a ban on mutilations (eg tail docking of dogs), subject to limited exemptions
• increase the age at which a child may buy an animal from 12 to 16
• gather together in one place and clarify existing regulation making powers to do with animal welfare, and to extend these powers in some respects
• increase the effectiveness of enforcement, in particular ensuring that animals can be dealt with in emergencies and that disqualification orders are effective; and
• increase the sentencing powers available to the Courts

TERRITORIAL EXTENT

• The Bill will apply to England and Wales
• Scotland and Northern Ireland are currently reviewing their existing animal welfare legislation

BACKGROUND 
Published in draft in the third session

COMMENTS

If you have any comments on the proposals you can email them to:

animal.welfarebill@defra.gsi.gov.uk