RSPCA new laws
Posted on Thursday, November 09 @ 22:41:04 GMT by jenvetadmin
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The RSPCA is celebrating the passing into law of the Animal Welfare Act.
Hailed by the charity as the single most important piece of legislation to protect animals for almost a century, the new law will mean that owners and keepers will - for the first time - have a legal responsibility to care for their animals through the introduction of a new welfare offence.
Under the Animal Welfare Act anyone who is responsible for a pet will have a legal responsibility to meet the five basic welfare needs of pets. These are:
a proper diet, including fresh water
somewhere suitable to live
any need to be housed with or apart from, other animals
allowing animals to express normal behaviour
protection from and treatment of, illness and injury.
"At last people will have a legal duty to properly care for their animals and the RSPCA will be able to respond positively to reported incidents of neglect," said RSPCA director general, Jackie Ballard.
"Our whole purpose is to prevent animals from suffering at the hands of cruel or ignorant people, and this new law will help us in that mission. After all, the 'P' in the RSPCA stands for prevention - prosecution is a last resort."
In addition to the new welfare offence, the Animal Welfare Act updates offences and penalties related to causing unnecessary suffering, fighting, docking of dogs' tails, mutilations and administering poisons.
The Animal Welfare Act 2006 will come into force in England on 6 April 2007.
This text taken from RSPCA web site.
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