|
For years, there has been debate on animal rights and there has been pressure on Government for an animal welfare act. At the same time, dog circles have advocated that all legislation relating to dogs be brought into a single Parliamentary Act. The dog industry generally has always promoted the myth that dogs are essential in our society. A single law would further that myth and entrench dogs into the nation’s culture and ensure their continued profitability. It would also dispose of laws enacted in the past in response to the problems dogs pose. Laws relating to dogs are no more problematical than those in other spheres. Certainly, some streamlining would help the courts. A moment’s consideration, however, will reveal that such an Act would embrace a wide range of existing laws. To take just one example, the laws on theft would have to be re-stated, but with the word ‘dog’ inserted here and there. To bring it about would require vast amounts of parliamentary time that simply is not available.
DEFRA has avoided confronting the extreme view and come up with a draft welfare bill that embraces all kept animals including dogs. It has been openly acknowledged that the draft has been looked at in detail by the ‘key stakeholders’. It is unlikely to become law before 2006.
On July 14th the Canine Crisis Council was invited to submit evidence on the draft Animal Welfare Bill being presented to Parliament by DEFRA. CCC responded with a submission relating mainly to stray dogs and renewing the issue of registration.
|
