Events > Three Years After the Animal Welfare Act: The Next Steps

Event Details

Title:

Three Years After the Animal Welfare Act: The Next Steps

Date:

Wednesday 17th March 2010

Time:

10:15am — 4:30pm

Venue:

One Whitehall Place, Westminster, London

“ The Animal Welfare Act represents the most important achievement in animal welfare legislation for almost a century … For the first time ever, there will be legislation to stop the suffering of pet animals before it occurs. By allowing early intervention this Act works on the principle that prevention is better than cure… Persistent offenders will also be deterred by stronger penalties.”
— Minister of State, DEFRA, April 2007

“The Animal Welfare Delivery Strategy reinforces our commitment to high animal welfare standards. Legislation is already in place and the strategy sets out in more detail the goals we are seeking to achieve … The strategy places an increased emphasis on sharing responsibility for good animal welfare. It highlights the importance of innovative delivery mechanisms which build on the achievements already made through legislation and stakeholder led initiatives.”
— Minister of State, DEFRA, October 2007

“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 … 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.”
— Minister of State, DEFRA, December 2009

Overview

Seeking to significantly improve standards of animal welfare in the UK, in 2007 the Government introduced the Animal Welfare Act, empowering local authorities and their partners to intervene earlier in instances of animal neglect to prevent suffering through improved enforcement powers and stronger penalties for persistent offenders. Over the last three years, the Government has further strengthened the Act through the Animal Welfare Delivery Strategy and, most recently, the Code of Practice for pet owners.

Despite the marked improvement in animal welfare since the implementation of the Act (latest RSPCA figures indicate a 25% increase in prosecution rates of animal cruelty in 2008), new challenges have emerged. As well as the negative effects of the economic downturn, specific problems such as puppy farming and the disturbing trend of the use of dogs as weapons in gang culture highlight that much more must be done to tackle the root causes of many animal welfare issues in the UK through improving education and strengthening enforcement policies.

This special Public Policy Exchange symposium offers an invaluable opportunity for animal welfare practitioners, law enforcement agencies and other key stakeholders to assess the progress made in safeguarding vulnerable animals since the implementation of the Act and discuss solutions to overcome these new challenges. The symposium will also consider how to extend practice beyond the provisions of the Act, pioneering new innovative and sustainable strategies, which make best of use of available funding and maximise partnership working, in order to further drive up standards in animal welfare in every local community. Delegates will have an opportunity to debate, share best practice and network with colleagues from across the animal welfare landscape.

Programme