Improving animal welfare in England

12.12.09

We support parliament’s plans to introduce legislation to advise pet owners on how to look after their dogs, cats and horses.

The government published dog, cat and equine welfare codes on Tuesday, 8 December. These codes, which have been placed before parliament, explain to pet owners how to comply with the law.

The codes of practice would be part of the Animal Welfare Act and come into effect next April.

We have long backed plans for the introduction of codes in England to provide clear information to help owners protect their animals' welfare. We have worked closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to help ensure that the codes are as effective as possible.

RSPCA head of external affairs, David Bowles, said: “We hope the codes will help improve animal welfare and prevent suffering by helping owners to understand what the law requires of them.

“Pet owners do need to be properly informed on what their pet needs. We believe that the Codes make the correct balance between giving sufficient information to any dog, cat or horse owner and being succinct enough for all owners to read and comprehend.”

Our inspectors will be using the codes as part of their enforcement work throughout England. Separate welfare codes for dogs, cats, equines and rabbits are currently in operation in Wales.

 
Animal Welfare Act

Whilst breaking the codes will not be an offence, the information in them can be used by a court to show whether an owner has been complying with the Animal Welfare Act.

The Animal Welfare Act came into force in 2007 and has made a marked improvement on animal welfare. The codes should further develop this by giving new and existing owners clear advice on looking after their cat, dog or horse.

We will be working with Defra on reviewing the effectiveness of the Codes.

Find out more about the Animal Welfare Act.

Pet care advice

Check out our pet care pages for expert advice on how to keep pets healthy and happy - our pets.