RSPCA urges action on animal welfare

Wednesday, 20 July 2005 12:00 AM

The RSPCA has stepped up its campaign for an animal welfare bill with the publication of new research showing a rise in the number of cases of animal neglect.

Legislation intended to afford pets the same protection as farm animals, which requires owners to provide food and water among other basic needs, was included in the Queen's Speech and is likely to come before the Commons in the autumn.

It was drawn up through consultation with the RSPCA and other interested groups to bring together 20 existing pieces of legislation on animal welfare dating back to 1911.

But with the publication of "truly shocking" new research, the charity is urging the government to take decisive action.

Of the animals seen by inspectors between June 2004 and May 2005, there has been a 78 per cent increase in the number of animals whose basic care needs are not being met, the research finds.

In addition, the study shows a 90 per cent increase in animals suffering because advice given is being ignored and a 96 per cent increase in animals not having adequate access to water.

"These statistics are truly shocking and we must ask the government to take notice and act now," said RSPCA director general Jackie Ballard.

"This information shows more than ever that there are some people out there who really should not own an animal if they cannot appreciate the most basic of requirements."

A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs welcomed today's research as it raised public awareness of animal welfare.

But he insisted the new bill, which would be enforced with fines and possibly even imprisonment, would improve the lot of animals by enabling inspectors to intervene in cases before animals began suffering.

"We have worked very closely with the RSPCA on this bill, and we take this issue very seriously," the spokesman told politics.co.uk.

The charity recently released a series of gruesome images of some of the cases that came to court in 2004 to highlight the urgent need for legal action. Images included a dog with a tumour covering half of its face and a puppy that had its ears cut off with scissors by its owner.

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