On the 6 April 2007 animal welfare laws were changed
to improve safety to animals' wellbeing. It is against the law
to be cruel to an animal, but you must also ensure that all the
welfare needs of your animals are met.
What does the Act do?
The
Animal
Welfare Act 2006 (external link) 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 increased 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 is available from the DEFRA (external link) website.