A summary of the Animal Welfare APPG

Enforcing animal welfare law is a far more complex process than many people might imagine.
Not only is there a multitude of laws, but different responsibilities fall to various authorities charged with enforcement. The Covid-19 pandemic has made a difficult task much harder and so enforcement of legislation was a timely topic for discussion last week at an All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare, of which the Countryside Alliance is an associate member.

A panel of experts gave their views on what is needed to meet this unprecedented situation, currently being addressed by the four state agencies on which enforcement relies. While cooperation between these bodies generally works well, the main problem is a lack of resources, compounded by criminals exploiting the difficulties caused by the pandemic lockdown. The illegal importation of puppies to meet the unusually high demand for companion animals in this isolating period, as well as sales via the internet, have created a 'perfect storm', with local authorities already under strain and the main animal welfare organisation, the RSPCA, inundated with calls of alleged cruelty and neglect.

Powers of entry into dwellings, as opposed to licensed premises, require police involvement, as RSPCA inspectors have no statutory authorisation, and if an animal is seized cases can take many months, if not years, to come to court. Boarding of these animals is not only very costly, but can also become a welfare matter, given that an animal kept in such an establishment may suffer behavioural problems.

Work in this field can be demoralising when bringing perpetrators to court, with many hours of preparation, sometime involving various authorities and with significant financial costs to the public purse. If a summary offence then results in a simple fine - often nothing like the total cost of prosecution - enforcement of such laws becomes harder to justify in terms of priorities. The possible use of fixed penalty notices was suggested, which could have the effect of avoiding situations before unnecessary animal suffering occurs and the need to prosecute. Non-compliance also provides a quick route into court, thereby helping to resolving the issue of long boarding periods for seized animals.

Undoubtedly, the current pandemic has made an already challenging situation much harder, forcing the authorities to make uncomfortable decisions about priorities and outcomes. Genuine animal welfare is certainly not helped by the demands and actions of single-issue pressure groups, consuming more police and court time for their own often misguided campaigns.