Public consultation over the Dangerous Dogs Act

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After years of campaigning by organisations such as Dogs Trust, the Government has launched a consultation over it's intended plans to tackle irresponsible dog ownership seeking our views on the issue.

The Government are proposing the following:

• To extend section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act to allow owners to be prosecuted for allowing their dogs to be dangerously out of control in any place, including private property.
• Allow dogs mentioned in section 1(deemed to be of a banned breed) to be granted "bail" meaning that following seizure by the police, if the dog was not deemed to be a threat to public safety and the owner was deemed responsible, the dog could be returned to the owner rather than going into police kennelling prior to any court date.
• To increase the fee for a section 1 dog to be placed on the Index of Exempted Dogs.
• To consult on plans to make micro-chipping compulsory for puppies.

 - Source, Dogs Trust.  If you want to read the full consultation documents you can do so here.

 

You have until the consultation closes on 15th June to give your views and you can do so by  quickly filling in this survey or by e-mailing Defra directly at: 

animalwelfare.consultations@defra.gsi.gov.uk

To help you fill in the survey have a look at the answers given by Dogs Trust which reflect that they don't think the Governments proposals go far enough.  Use this as a guide but remember to try and put it as much in your own words as possible.

Will animals in circuses really be banned?

A phase-in ban on wild animals in circuses, with a licensing scheme to be implemented in the meantime was announced on 1st March.  People all over the country were victorious and thought their hard work and campaigning had finally come to fruition.  It is now two months on and now the documents from the government have been studies in detail, people are less confident about the governments commitment to a ban.

This is because a deadline for the ban has still not been set and the details about the full ban are vague.  

Worryingly, the licensing scheme that is now in force will not safeguard the welfare of animals as it relies on circuses themselves to adhere to the welfare guidelines.

The most telling thing has been a letter from a Defra civil servant stating "I am not aware we have ever suggested that the licensing scheme would be a 'temporary' measure".  Other documents were enclosed with the proposal that were "littered with contradictions and inconsistencies" which leads the RSPCA and CAPS to question whether the government intend to keep their promise of a ban.

CAPS managed to secure a meeting with the relevant Minister towards the end of April, during the meeting the Minister confirmed that licensing will be temporary and that a ban would be in place before the end of this government's term (2015).  This is longer than hoped for, but better than the licensing system continuing for ten years or becoming permanent.

The Minister also confirmed that the ban will apply to all wild animals in circuses, with no clause allowing animals that are already in circuses to remain so.  From the date the ban begins it will be illegal for wild animals to be used in the travelling circus environment.

There are a few negative aspects to the meeting, the government are proposing a ban via primary legislation which will take a long time to implement.  Placing the ban under the Animal Welfare Act would speed up the process and reduce the suffering of animals.  Unfortunately the government don't agree, or choose not to.  

The government are determined that licensing will go ahead despite it not protecting the animals and being a complicated and expensive stop gap which takes focus away from the ban.  Despite there being a lack of support of the licensing system, it will still continue.

After the meeting CAPS believe that the intention to ban the use of wild animals in circuses is genuine.  There is still something that you can do to help, please click here and join the RSPCA in urging Defra to commit to a deadline.

Has the use of wild animals in Circuses been banned yet?

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Whilst catching up with the Animal Blogs I follow I stumbled across this post from Four Paws remarking on how appalled they are that the UK Government continues to drag its feet over banning the use of wild animals in circuses.  Despite the ban being supported by the vast majority of the British public and politicians from all parties there has been no movement.  

Four Paws alludes to the House of Commons backbench debate in June 2011 where MPs approved unanimously of a motion for the government to ban the use of wild animals in circuses by July 2012.

The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) referred to a legal challenge to a similar ban in Austria as the reason they could not proceed with the ban.  The legal challenge to Austria's ban has since been dismissed which leaves Defra with no reason to refuse the ban.

Four Paws tells of two new Early Day Motions that have been launched this month calling on the Government to listen to the will of the House of Commons and endorse a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses, the other asking the Government to release reports of circus inspections that were carried out by Defra staff.  Previous requests to release these reports under the Freedom of Information Act have been refused.

What are they trying to hide?

Please e-mail your MP and ask them to sign EDM 2563 calling for a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses and also EDM 2586 calling for the release of circus inspection reports.  You can find your MP by clicking here and typing in your postcode.  You are then able to click on the name of your MP and be directed to their e-mail address.  It would be better if you were to personalise your e-mail but here is a template in case you don't have enough time:

Dear _____,

I am writing to ask you to please sign DM 2563 calling for a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses and also EDM 2586 calling for the release of circus inspection reports.  This ban is supported by the vast majority of the British public as well as politicians across all parties.  Several other European countries have enacted such bans, the latest being Greece.

I feel very strongly about this issue and ask that you sign both EDM's without further delay.

Yours sincerely,

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Please also e-mail the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Caroline Spelman and ask her to tell Defra to stop stalling and enact a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses.  The template e-mail can be found at the bottom of this post, but do personalise it if you can please.

Please share this post with your friends and family on Facebook and Twitter, the more people that contact their MP's and Caroline Spelman - the better!

Tell Defra that farm animal welfare is important.

Around 80% of animals farmed in the EU each year are factory farmed.  The image portraying happy animals chewing the cud on green pastures couldn't be further from the truth.  What really happens is that these farm animals spend their lives shut in sheds, pens and even cages with many growing unnaturally and having not much else to do but eat before eventually dying in slaughterhouses or prematurely from injury or exhaustion.

The current EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform proposals fail to protect farm animals, in fact, Compassion in World Farming tell us that they are a backwards step for animal welfare and a huge missed opportunity for us to move towards more humane and sustainable farming practices.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) are currently conducting a consultation into the CAP reform proposals and it is now time to take this opportunity and tell Defra that animal welfare is an important part of the EU agricultural policy.

Read More.

Please can you spare a little time to fill in a few details here and send the readily prepared response to Defra's consultation on these proposed reforms?  Every response increases the pressure on Defra to act in the best interest of farm animal welfare so please ask your friends and family to do the same.

Thank you!

Stop clowning around, we need to think seriously about Circuses...

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The RSPCA and Animal Aid have long been campaigning for the use of animals in circuses to be banned.  A few months ago some video footage was released by an organisation called Animal Defenders International showing an elephant named Anne, being abused by her keeper at Bobby Robert's Super Circus.  The good news is that Anne has now been moved to Longleat Safari Park where you can see below that she is a whole lot happier.

Read more about Anne here.

Anne was the last elephant to be used in a circus but according to the RSPCA there are still 37 animals left including zebras, lions, snakes, tigers, camels, a kangaroo and crocodiles

After Anne's experiences had come to light, Caroline Spelman MP, the Secretary of State said that she was "minded" towards a ban on wild animals in circuses.  Unfortunately there has been no further announcement by Mrs Spelman.  In recent weeks, Defra announced that it is unable to ban the use of wild animals in circuses because of a lawsuit taking place in Austria.  However, Jim Paice, Defra’s pro-hunt animal welfare Minister was forced to admit that these legal proceedings don’t actually exist. 

Mr Paice was reported to have said "if you don't like the idea of elephants and lions performing in circuses, don't go". 

The RSPCA is asking for one final push to urge Prime Minister, David Cameron to ban wild animals in circuses once and for all.

How to Help

If you click on this link you will be taken to the RSPCA's campaign site where you will be asked to enter a few details, once you have done this you will be taken to a readily prepared e-mail where, if you have time, you can enter your own (polite) comments.  Hit submit and we're another step closer to a better life for animals.

Don't forget to tell your friends.  Thank you!

Sources:  RSPCA, Animal Aid.