Fifty animal charities unite to urge Government not to waste ‘once in a generation’ opportunity to protect animals.
An unprecedented coalition of 50 animal welfare organisations is urging the Government not to waste a ‘once-in-a-generation opportunity to redefine our relationship with animals through a new animal health and welfare strategy.
The Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation welcomes the strong steps the government has taken in advancing animal welfare, including the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act to increase sentencing for animal cruelty and its commitment to leading standards around the world such as ending live exports for slaughter and fattening.
It is important that the Government plays an active role globally too. Animal welfare is an increasing concern amongst the general public, who frequently look to Government to take the lead in both maintaining and improving standards.
We welcome the ‘No Animal Left Behind’ Animal Welfare Strategy proposals which sets out 40 recommendations – including a number of important measures to improve the welfare of farm, wild, companion and laboratory animals.
The coalition comprises 50 organisations including Animal Aid, Battersea, Blue Cross, Born Free, Bransby Horses, Brook Action for Working Horses and Donkeys, Cats Protection, CFSG, Catholic Concern For Animals, Compassion in World Farming, Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation, Dogs Trust, Horse Trust, HSI, IFAW, Kennel Club, League Against Cruel Sports, Mare and Foal Sanctuary, PDSA, Redwings, RSPCA, SPANA, Scottish SPCA, World Horse Welfare, World Animal Protection.
We look forward to seeing powerful animal welfare measures in the Queens Speech and working with all parties in achieving a better world for all animals.
2021 is set to be a meaningful year for animal welfare. #ActForAnimals
Farm animal welfare:
● An end to live exports for slaughter and further fattening
● A ban on farrowing crates for sows and cages for hens and ensuring the UK’s new farm payment systems do not give money to farms who continue to operate cage systems
● Reduced stocking densities for meat chickens so we no longer see 19 birds living in one square metre.
● An end to chicken breeds which have been genetically selected to grow to slaughter weight in around just 35 days after hatching
● Mandatory method of production labelling for food products in the UK and those imported under trade deals
Pet welfare:
● Legislation to raise the minimum age of puppies and kittens imported into the UK from 15 weeks to six months
● Urgent action to tackle pet theft
● Compulsory cat microchipping and a single point of contact for dog and cat microchip databases
● A ban on the importation or sale of dogs with cropped ears
● Better equine identification to tackle abandonment and negle
● A licensing and inspection framework for animal rescue, rehoming centres and sanctuaries
● A ban on keeping primates as pets and a comprehensive review of wild animals being kept as pets
Wildlife Welfare:
● A complete review of wildlife legislation building on the recommendations provided by the Law Commission’s 2015 Wildlife Law report
● A ban on the sale and use of glue traps and snares which cause indiscriminate suffering
● A ban on trophy hunting imports and the sale and import of fur and foie gras
● The setting of ambitious targets to protect the 1,000 whales, dolphins and porpoises killed each year in UK fisheries due to entanglement in fishing gear.
Many of these key animal welfare issues are devolved and the coalition of organisations is calling for action from all four nations to ensure standards are improved across the board.
A full copy of the coalition’s Vision Paper can be read here: https://view.pagetiger.com/actnowforanimals/1