Owners must now have a duty of care to their pets

The new Animal Welfare Act comes into force on 6 April 2007. This Act updates and consolidates existing legislation concerning the keeping of animals and brings with it new responsibilities that we, as pet owners, must be aware of.

This primary legislation will bring a 'duty of care' onto owners so it will now be the responsibility of the owner of an animal to ensure that the needs of an animal are met. The duty of care is based around the Farm Animal Welfare Council's Five Freedoms (adopted by the RSPCA as the Freedom Food logo). The freedoms provide a logical framework to assess welfare by suggesting that animals should have a freedom from hunger and thirst, a freedom from discomfort, freedom from pain, injury and disease, freedom to express normal behaviour and freedom from fear and distress.

To keep within the boundaries of the new law, we suggest that owners provide the following for their pet/companion animal:

• Fresh food and water
• An environment appropriate to the species which avoids discomfort to the animal. This means protection from extremes of temperature, light, draughts and humidity
• Veterinary advice where necessary to prevent pain, injury, suffering and disease and as soon as possible. This includes vaccination for some species.
• Sufficient space and proper facilities. This means a hutch, cage vivarium or aquarium large enough for the species, including room for them to grow if they are young animals. Appropriate stimuli and, where appropriate, company of its own kind should be provided so that the animal can express normal behaviour.
• Protection from fear and distress to avoid mental suffering. For example, excessive noise, fireworks, or housing your animal in view of predators.

We are more than happy to advise owners on ways to keep their animals so that tey stay within the confines of the new law.