Animal welfare
The Animal Welfare web pages provide information on:
- Animal Welfare Act 2006
- Guidance on welfare in transport regulations
- Guidance on domestic and farm animal welfare
The livestock welfare page details the Welsh Assembly Government’s commitment to ensure the welfare standards of farm animals are improved and maintained. This includes during transport, at markets and at slaughter. This section also contains information on companion/domestic animal welfare.
Latest News
Tuesday 30 June - Puppy Farming in Wales
The Welsh Assembly Government has recently received a number of items of correspondence from members of the public raising concerns regarding dog breeding establishments in Wales.
The Animal Welfare Act 2006 has provided the Welsh Assembly Government with a new opportunity to raise the profile of companion animal welfare issues in Wales. This includes promoting amongst pet owners and keepers of animals an increased understanding of their responsibilities.
The Welsh Assembly Government's 'Companion Animal Welfare Enhancement Scheme' (CAWES) has provided new funding. The purpose of CAWES is to raise the profile of companion animal welfare issues in Wales and to broadly assess compliance levels with the new legislation. Local authorities were also invited to apply for funding to carry out 'special projects' to tackle certain issues in their area. Carmarthenshire, Cardiganshire and Pembrokeshire local authorities were successful in their application to develop special projects focusing on dog breeding. These projects will report in due course, but local authorities already respond positively to companion animal welfare concerns that are brought to their attention.
The Welsh Assembly Government has published Codes of Practice for the welfare of cats, dogs and equines. These provide guidance about how to look after their animal at a level that satisfies the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The Codes cover working or 'stock' animals, as well as pet animals
Where you have serious concerns about the welfare of an animal, the local authority's animal welfare team should be notified. Animal welfare agencies may also be contacted if appropriate.
If you have any queries, please contact the Welsh Assembly Government's animal welfare team on 02920 823477 or companionanimalwelfare@wales.gsi.gov.uk
Wednesday 25 June - Wales proposes a ban electric training devices for pets
Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones has announced a proposed ban on the use of electric training aids. The ban would include shock collars and is a result of concerns about unnecessary suffering to pet animals.
A number of different electronic training aids are currently on sale and are mainly used on dogs. Some are designed to give the animal an electric shock in response to a particular undesirable behaviour.
The Minister has assessed responses to a Welsh Assembly Government consultation regarding the issue which expressed arguments for and against a ban on the devices.
Elin Jones said:
"This has not been an easy subject to examine. There is genuinely a large degree of concern about how these devices are improperly used, in contrast to responses from people who have used them and found they have worked in stopping an animal from misbehaving.
After giving due consideration to the arguments, I propose to introduce a ban on the use of electric shock collars in Wales. We will examine the possibility of certain restricted uses under veterinary and professional supervision and for controlled boundary fences".
The Welsh Assembly Government will produce, and consult on, draft detailed Regulations to introduce the proposed ban. They will give further consideration to whether the sale and possession of electric shock collars should be included in the ban.
The ban would be the first of its kind in the UK.
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