WIREDGOV

New codes of practice for dog, cat and horse owners with practical advice on how best to look after their pets’ health and wellbeing were published yesterday.

Animal welfare organisations and vets helped Defra draw up the codes of practice for dogs, cats and equines, designed to give people information about pet care including diet and exercise, and to explain owners’ and keepers’ legal duties to their animals.

Animal Welfare Minister Jim Fitzpatrick unveiled the new booklets on a visit to a Dogs Trust re-homing centre in London to back the charity’s Christmas campaign to reduce the number of dogs given as gifts in December that are abandoned soon after.

Jim Fitzpatrick said:

“We’re a nation of animal lovers, but sadly too many people still don’t know how to look after their pets properly and get things wrong. It’s the animals who suffer as a result.

"In 2008 the RSPCA gave out advice to help improve the welfare of more than 107,000 animals.

“The new Codes of Practice contain clear and straightforward advice, supported by organisations including the RSPCA, Dogs Trust, PDSA, British Veterinary Association and British Horse Society, and they don’t place any new requirements on owners and keepers.  They are designed to explain to people their responsibility and legal duty of care to their pets, and to help protect animals from pain, injury and disease.”

For more information go to:

• www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/cruelty/index.htm

Notes to editors

1. Although it will not be an offence to fail to comply with the Codes of Practice they could be used as evidence in court to support a case of poor welfare brought under the Animal Welfare Act which may lead to a prosecution for animal cruelty.

2. The Animal Welfare Act, introduced in April 2007, created a duty on anyone responsible for an animal to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the needs and welfare of the animal are met. Anyone convicted of animal cruelty under the Act  could face a prison sentence or a fine up to £20,000.

3. There were more than 1,200 prosecutions for animal cruelty in 2007.

4. For more information about the Dogs Trust’s campaign, go to: www.dogstrust.org.uk