Code of practice for pet owners

[Team Svartalfheims]

All pets must be neutered and licensed to pay for wardens. All breeding must be registered or reported !!!!!

I fully agree with that.

I also strongly believe that breeders should be subject to random spot checks to check they are keeping their pets in suitable conditions and I particularly think that if people have any outside accomodation that there should be a minimum size and standard of accomodation/run provided, it breaks my heart to see/hear of studs spending their entire lives in tiny runs and are never being allowed in the house and basically aren't treated as pets I think that the registering bodies for pedigree cats should be stricter on overbreeding with a far more severe penalty for overbreeding a female as in my personal opinion the current penalties aren't severe enough to deter those who let their female have kittens every 6 months.

[Angiew]

First read through - its all a bit daft really and won't address any of the real concens we see on a day-to-day basis.

abandonment - nothing about care in finding a new home ie emigrating - animals come near top of list or provisions in will for care or if infirm (as we know the national assistance act is pants)

really do think cats should be licensed (to kill  ) with a reduced rate for neutered animals but again that seems to be outside the remit

I don't like the rspca policing this

outside remit but all parties should be included in this -

ie councils scan for chips on roadkill
vets should ensure that 24hr cover is provided in the proximity of their practise and not need to move animals around - talking of which you see check out the vets now petition, the sad death of a dog has turned the dog fraternity into an uproar - over 500 have signed in the last week (see comment 201 for source)  http://www.gopetition.co.uk/petitions/vets-now-poor-out-of-hours-veterinary-service/signatures-page14.html

[blackcat]

If there is a consultation process, then if you feel it is not strong enough in some areas, you can make a submission on those grounds (giving reasons) so as they can take it into consideration when completing the document. That is the whole reason for a consultation process - to alert policy-makers to issues they may have overlooked or not given sufficient weight to.

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

From a quick read, it all seems like sensible (if vague) advice as you'd find in any cat care book.  It could do with being a bit more strongly in favour of neutering, but I can't see anything in there that I'd find fault with.  Of course, the very people who need to read it will not, but I don't have a problem with the contents of the consultation document.

[LesleyW]

oh if you want to be involved in the consultation -

http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/welfare-cats-cop/index.htm

just off now ... I may be some time

I see the actual document re: welfare of cats is 28 pages long.  Typical, my printer is out of ink so will print it out tomorrow at work and will make some interesting bedtime reading tomorrow night but I too will be joining in the consultation I think.

[Angiew]

oh if you want to be involved in the consultation -

http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/welfare-cats-cop/index.htm

just off now ... I may be some time

[Angiew]

It would be alright bringing all these codes of practice etc if there was a GOOD governing body to enforce it, anyone other than the RSPCA.  Why should it be policed by what is ultimately a "charity" and basically public money is then used to pay solicitors and court costs for cases, which they will only take to court if they think they have a chance of winning which is usually against honest pet owners rather than the backstreet breeders and others who have the devious means and illegal ways of avoiding prosecution.

I am sure if the RSPCA turned up at my door they would consider me either a cat hoarder or a badly run rescue.  They do not look at the whole picture and the fact that I have this many cats because they refuse to take them in this area and I am operating on my income alone whilst they are paying people to go door to door pleading for money.  They even had one of their "chuggers" call here and she thought that I would "definitely give a donation because you care so much for animals"  I told her in no uncertain terms that my money goes on my rescue and I did not have a penny to give to them.  She was most insulted that I would not even give £3 a month.

Sorry, having a bit of a rant, but it is just the nanny state thinking it can make some money by fining pet owners now.  They obviously realise with the credit crunch that pet owners may struggle a bit and are, therefore, a vulnerable lot who can now be fined for not having the appropriate number of litter trays or a scratching post.   The real people causing animal cruelty and running puppy and kitten farms will carry on as normal because they don't care.

That goes for me as well! Well said there woman. I was trying to see how I could say all this in an email to the bbc website!!

All pets must be neutered and licensed to pay for wardens. All breeding must be registered or reported !!!!!

[LesleyW]

It would be alright bringing all these codes of practice etc if there was a GOOD governing body to enforce it, anyone other than the RSPCA.  Why should it be policed by what is ultimately a "charity" and basically public money is then used to pay solicitors and court costs for cases, which they will only take to court if they think they have a chance of winning which is usually against honest pet owners rather than the backstreet breeders and others who have the devious means and illegal ways of avoiding prosecution.

I am sure if the RSPCA turned up at my door they would consider me either a cat hoarder or a badly run rescue.  They do not look at the whole picture and the fact that I have this many cats because they refuse to take them in this area and I am operating on my income alone whilst they are paying people to go door to door pleading for money.  They even had one of their "chuggers" call here and she thought that I would "definitely give a donation because you care so much for animals"  I told her in no uncertain terms that my money goes on my rescue and I did not have a penny to give to them.  She was most insulted that I would not even give £3 a month.

Sorry, having a bit of a rant, but it is just the nanny state thinking it can make some money by fining pet owners now.  They obviously realise with the credit crunch that pet owners may struggle a bit and are, therefore, a vulnerable lot who can now be fined for not having the appropriate number of litter trays or a scratching post.   The real people causing animal cruelty and running puppy and kitten farms will carry on as normal because they don't care.

[Dawn F]

I saw an horrific programme yesterday morning called animal 24/7 and it involved a very upsetting neglect case by a breeder of Burmese cats - she went unpunished - they said she was too old - the Amersham horses all went back to the man who had starved them - what is point of it

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

This is the sort of stuff that everyone was worried about in the animal welfare bill with the useless RSPCA policing it.

No prosecution BUT could be used in animal cruelty cases.........opens the door to abuse by RSPCA, and also nasty neighbours.

Whereas advice is good when it is not stupid and much in the animal welfare bill is patently stupid

[LesleyW]

Only trouble is it means I have to have at least 40 litter trays in my house

[JackSpratt]

Just been sent that via email! Good stuff.

[Rosella moggy]

Thought this might be of interest

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7708411.stm