chris
10-17-2005, 06:23 PM
Hi all,
it's only taken them a month and a day to reply... but they replied so i suppose that's one thing:
11th October 2005
Dear Mr Dunn
PET SHOWS AND BIRDKEEPING
thank you for your e-mail of 13 september to Ben Bradshaw about expressing concerns that certain animal rights organisations are seeking to restrict the hobby of bird. fairs. I have been asked to reply.
Firstly, let me assure you that the government is not proposing to prohibit the hobby of keeping birds, including the buying and selling of legally held birds. The government strongly believes that, provided appropriate safeguards are in place, the keeping of birds is a legitimate activity.
It may be helpful if i explained the current situation. the Pet Animals Act 1951 (as amended in 1983) currently controls the sale of all animals as pets from licensed premises. This Act requires and person selling pet animals, including birds to be licensed by the local authority. Before granting a licence the authority must satisfy itself that the animals are kept in accomodation that is suitable and clean, that they are supplied with the appropriate food and drink, and are protected from disease and fire. Currently it is an offence to sell pets in a street or public place, or at a stall or barrow in a market.
Local authorities currently operate different interpretations of the 1951 Act. Some consider that pet fairs can be licensed under the 1951 Act, while others consider that such events cannot be licensed. It is this uncertainty that has persuaded the government that the issue of pet fairs needs to be addressed. The government fully understands the strength of feeling that exists both for and against the selling of animals at pet fairs. We recognise that there are concerns about the suitability of some animals for selling at pet fairs and the low welfare standards that have been observed at some fairs. We believe that these are concerns that must be addressed and although we are not proposing to introduce a ban on pet fairs, we would want to take the opportunity to see that we have placed regulations which will not compromise the welfare of an animal sold in a pet fair in comparison with one that is sold in a shop. The government wants to see a consistently high standard across the board. This could be achieved through the introduction of a licensing regime and a code of practice that will be specific to pet fairs.
There is a lot of work to be done before Defra Ministers can make a decision one way or the other on the licensing of pet fairs. If Defra decides to recommend licensing there will be further public consultation before draft regulations and code are laid before Parliament for approval.
Further information on the draft bill can be found via our website at:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/bill/index.htm (http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/bill/index.htm)
yours sincerely
Dominique Ojjoo
Central Communications Unit
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Chris:wink:
it's only taken them a month and a day to reply... but they replied so i suppose that's one thing:
11th October 2005
Dear Mr Dunn
PET SHOWS AND BIRDKEEPING
thank you for your e-mail of 13 september to Ben Bradshaw about expressing concerns that certain animal rights organisations are seeking to restrict the hobby of bird. fairs. I have been asked to reply.
Firstly, let me assure you that the government is not proposing to prohibit the hobby of keeping birds, including the buying and selling of legally held birds. The government strongly believes that, provided appropriate safeguards are in place, the keeping of birds is a legitimate activity.
It may be helpful if i explained the current situation. the Pet Animals Act 1951 (as amended in 1983) currently controls the sale of all animals as pets from licensed premises. This Act requires and person selling pet animals, including birds to be licensed by the local authority. Before granting a licence the authority must satisfy itself that the animals are kept in accomodation that is suitable and clean, that they are supplied with the appropriate food and drink, and are protected from disease and fire. Currently it is an offence to sell pets in a street or public place, or at a stall or barrow in a market.
Local authorities currently operate different interpretations of the 1951 Act. Some consider that pet fairs can be licensed under the 1951 Act, while others consider that such events cannot be licensed. It is this uncertainty that has persuaded the government that the issue of pet fairs needs to be addressed. The government fully understands the strength of feeling that exists both for and against the selling of animals at pet fairs. We recognise that there are concerns about the suitability of some animals for selling at pet fairs and the low welfare standards that have been observed at some fairs. We believe that these are concerns that must be addressed and although we are not proposing to introduce a ban on pet fairs, we would want to take the opportunity to see that we have placed regulations which will not compromise the welfare of an animal sold in a pet fair in comparison with one that is sold in a shop. The government wants to see a consistently high standard across the board. This could be achieved through the introduction of a licensing regime and a code of practice that will be specific to pet fairs.
There is a lot of work to be done before Defra Ministers can make a decision one way or the other on the licensing of pet fairs. If Defra decides to recommend licensing there will be further public consultation before draft regulations and code are laid before Parliament for approval.
Further information on the draft bill can be found via our website at:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/bill/index.htm (http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/bill/index.htm)
yours sincerely
Dominique Ojjoo
Central Communications Unit
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Chris:wink: