maurycy
28.04.02, 21:00
Wg. Sunday Times
LONDON: Britain’s pets are set to get their own ‘‘bill of rights’’. Ministers
are planning legislation that would guarantee cats, dogs and other pets a
minimum quality of life.
Under the rules, owners could be prosecuted if they failed to fulfil the needs
of pets — from adequate food and water to enough space and companionship.
The legislation would be the biggest change in Britain’s animal welfare rules
for almost a century. It could include codes of conduct for owners of cats,
dogs, horses, rabbits and birds.
The Royal Society for Prevention of cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), which is
working with the government on the changes, has already drawn up provisional
standards.
Elliot Morley, an environment minister who is drawing up the proposals, will
make a speech on Tuesday outlining the possible recommendations. The speech is
to include the point that animal welfare legislation, which dates back to 1911,
is out of date.
‘‘We need to modernise the law by setting minimum standards for the animals in
our care. We have an obligation to treat animals in the way that a civilised
society expects,’’ he said.
The most important change is expected to be the creation of a new offence of
treating animals in a way ‘‘likely to cause suffering’’.
At present, animal owners can be prosecuted only once an animal is clearly
suffering. Under the proposed law, police and the RSPCA could prosecute owners
if it were believed they had broken the accepted standards for that species.
Cat owners could be prosecuted for cooping up pets and not giving them the
chance to roam in a garden. Budgie owners who confine birds in small cages or
keep them on their own, might be prosecuted too.
The debate will centre on how far the government is prepared to go to protect
pets.
Frank Widdowson, the RSPCA’s director of legal services, said: ‘‘There should
be a duty of care so that anyone in charge of an animal has a legal
responsibility to meet these standards.’’
Morley said he accepted the basic principles but the final form of the bill was
yet to be decided: ‘‘These criteria have been discussed by government advisers.
They are widely accepted and easily understood’’.
