The new Animal Welfare Act 2006

[Millys Mum]

I havent read the whole bill, does anyone know if there is anything in it that would give landowners with a feral population some kind of responsibility to their welfare when they build on it thus making the cats homeless.
Wishful thinking i know 

[berties mum]

Oh, don't tempt me ... 

[Ela]

they all think three is a lot!).

I always think 4 is a nice number especially if you are feeding tinned food, then 1 tin does all for each meal and there is no putting a part full tin away or throwing it away, (unless the cats don't eat it all of course).

[berties mum]

Thanks Ela - I'm glad you think Minnie has found a good home.  It's so nice coming on here and getting some support, as most of my F&Fs are horrified that I'm having another cat (they all think three is a lot!). Stay tuned for futher tales of Bella not even realising we've got another cat - she does make me laugh with her rather simple outlook on things!

[Ela]

Sorry haven't replied about Minnie, Ela, my broadband went down yesterday.

Please don't apologise, as long as Minnie has a good home I am not worried.

[berties mum]

Aw, thanks Milly's Mum!!  Sorry haven't replied about Minnie, Ela, my broadband went down yesterday.  She's doing ok thanks.  My friend who resuces feral cats has suggested avoiding the cage if I can, by letting Minnie spend more time in the house each day and getting her more used to the others before I shut them all in together.  So far we've had one incident of Minnie growling at Bella (to which Bella responded by looking confused and eating her dinner!), and one incident where she hissed at Bert and he bopped her round the ear, but it didn't get nasty.  She's been Frontlined too, so we're almost ready!

[Bazsmum]

  Great news for Minnie 

[Millys Mum]

Minnie is moving in with Berties Mum so shes a winner 

[Dawn F]

I reported my sisters neighbour recently, his cat was neglected more through ignorance than cruelty but was painfully thin and cried constantly.  I was pleased with the response I got, they phoned me the next day to update me on the visit.   I will be keeping an eye on the situation though

[Ela]

I've considered reporting this to the RSPCA, but how bothered will they be?!

You will never know unless you give it a try. Please remember we are an animals only voice.

What happened to Minnie?

[berties mum]

Unfortunately they just don't seem to make complaints like this a priority.  It was really no surprise to me when my neighbour emigrated to New Zealand and left Minnie behind, because his version of ownership was keeping her outdoors at all times and feeding her one Whiskas pouch a day outside on newspaper, not even in a bowl.  The justification was that Minnie was his ex's cat, who had now moved out, so he was doing her a favour by feeding her at all.  "His" cat, meanwhile, had full access to the house, was clearly very well fed and even moved abroad with him.  Apparently more than one neighbour who was sick of seeing Minnie going through bins and licking empty takeaway cartons had raised concerns with the RSPCA but it never got anywhere.  The new occupant of that house has a very large border collie that howls miserably night and day.. he has admited himself that he can't control her, keeps her cooped up because he's too tired to walk her when he gets home from work, and that he can't give her the attention she needs as a rescued dog, but he keeps hold of her.  I've considered reporting this to the RSPCA, but how bothered will they be?!

[scattycat]

Personally I've always said good things about the RSPCA (mainly as we've rehomed 2 cats from them) but anyway, a few months ago we reported our neighbour and his cat as he and his new bit of stuff went off on holiday for 2 weeks, and left the cat out. The neighbour was feeding the cat, but we felt that this new Welfare act should have at least got this chap a visit as we felt he certainly wasnt providing shelter - and the RSPCA operation said that technically he had abandoned his cat.

It's been 3 months at least and I havent heard anything back from them - so I can only assume that this chap never called the RSPCA back from the card we were told was put through his door.

Still to this day this poor cat spends days outside, with no food - yet even if you do report these people they do nothing about - well that's my experience of them anyway

[blackcat]

I think it is always worth making a report. Even if, in your situation, it turned out well, they will have a record so if the violent little thugs do it again they have a prior situation on record. It is that way that they build their cases if something finally goes to court. Their action was a malicious attempt to cause harm and suffering to an animal (and showed little regard for the well-being of their dog as well) so they will eventually come to police attention, you are just equipping the police with ammunition when that time comes.

[berties mum]

That's what I thought too ... I was planning to go into the station in person and see if that made a difference but now that Minnie has turned up unscathed (thank God), I wonder if they'll take it even less seriously.

[blackcat]

think those wee coppers need to back to basic law 101. No, that is not the case, they are either really stupid, or they don't feel inclined to act - probably the latter although you never know these days...

[berties mum]

In connection with my other post about Minnie being attacked by a dog, a few people advised me to mention this Act to the police when I reported the incident, but they said it didn't apply as although the people concerned were being cruel to Minnie, they don't own her. Can that really be the case?!

[Tan]

Animal Welfare Act 2006

From 6 April 2007 in England, and in Wales from 27 March, animal welfare law has been improved.
It is still against the law to be cruel to an animal. But now you must also ensure that all the welfare needs of your animals are met.

These include the need:

For a suitable environment (place to live)
For a suitable diet
To exhibit normal behaviour patterns
To be housed with, or apart from, other animals (if applicable)
To be protected from pain, injury, suffering and disease
The new law also increases to 16 the minimum age at which a person can buy an animal and prohibits giving animals as prizes to unaccompanied children under this age.

Anyone who is cruel to an animal, or does not provide for its welfare needs, may be banned from owning animals, fined up to £20,000 and/or sent to prison.

Secondary legislation
The Act enables the government and Parliament to make secondary legislation on specific issues. More information on secondary legislation is available here; and some extra information on some of these issues in particular can be found here:

Mutilations and Tail Docking -
Racing Greyhounds
Pet Fairs and Pet Sales
Primates as Pets
Wild Animals in Circuses
Game Birds

More Information about the Act - http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/act/index.htm

A downloadable pdf file of the act can be found here - http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/act/info.htm
 
How does the Act affect me? - http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/act/affect.htm