As a charity, we have adopted the provision of the 2006 Animal Welfare Act and RSPCA recommended standards, which apply to pets and those responsible for domestic animals, e.g. breeders, those who have working animals or farm animals in England and Wales. We have also adopted the 5 European conventions on animal welfare.
We support animals that are at risk, or have been abused or maltreated, but not fit and healthy animals.
Animal Welfare Act
Section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act places a duty of care on people to ensure they take reasonable steps in all the circumstances to meet the welfare needs of their animals to the extent required by good practice.
In short it means those responsible for animals, must take positive steps to ensure they care for their animals properly and in particular must provide for the five welfare needs, which are the need:
• For a suitable environment.
• For a suitable diet.
• To be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns.
• To be housed with, or apart, from other animals.
• To be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.
Advice on how this should be achieved is available on the RSPCA advice and welfare pages.
Animal Welfare Standards
We recognise that achieving UK animal welfare standards is other countries may be very difficult, but we and require partner organisations to abide by these where possible and to work towards achieving these where it is not initially achievable.
Pets
We have adopted the Defra standards:
• Dogs
European Union – Animal Transportation
Companies used for transportation will be subject to appropriate checks to ensure they maintain standards that meet both our animal welfare and regulatory requirements, including having Defra and European transport licences. We also require them to adhere to the Animal Transportation Association standards for animal welfare during transportation.
Transporters are also required to comply with the new post Brexit import controls on importing animals, including the requirements for health certification and import pre-notifications.
How These Will Be Met
Welfare Standards
We and any organisations that we work with will maintain procedures to:
• Identity animals in need of help and make decisions on which animals are rehomed, returned to owners or released into the wild (if applicable).
• Ensure that there are sufficient people and that those caring for animals have the necessary qualifications and experience to do so.
• Ensure compliance with the above and any local legal requirements and good practice for animal care.
• Ensure that facilities are maintained to an acceptable standard, including standards of comfort and safety for the animals, with adequate maintenance of facilities, heating, cleanliness and food quality and quantity.
• Ensure that animals are housed and managed in a way that ensures they do not pose a threat to either themselves, or others, such as staff, volunteers or visitors.
Skills & Experience
• Those caring for animals must have the necessary experience and/or qualifications.
• There should be a vet on the staff team, or an arrangement with a local vet who has the necessary expertise in the type of animal(s) to be cared for.
• The vet should provide any specialist care and also provide guidance to the charity on how best to care for the animals.
• For the handling and management of medicines, or any procedures authorised by a vet, individuals must hold the relevant veterinary nursing, or other qualification, if required and be suitably experienced and supervised.
• Everyone involved with the animals should have or be provided with appropriate guidance and on-the-job training in animal husbandry and care and be supervised.
• Everyone should be made aware of and provided with any necessary H&SW training to keep themselves, the animals and any visitors safe.
• Where young people are involved, any under the age of 13 will require parental (or other guardian) consent unless volunteering with a parent, or guardian, who will act in loco parentis. That is take full responsibility for him or her.
Rehoming
We assess prospective adopters and the facilities for their pet, to ensure they:
• Have met the animal in person. We do not rehome pets based on online or postal applications.
• Will care for the animal, as a pet, and it will not be used for hunting, or as a guard dog.
• Are committed to doing so, including:
o Understanding the costs involved and;
o Any specific medical, dietary or behavioural issues the animal may have.
o If in rented or tied accommodation, they have the landlord’s permission.
• Understand its needs and that it will be adequately housed, with appropriate access to free space and stimulation to meet its needs.
We also require prospective owners to provide proof of identify and to confirm they are at least 18 years old.
The person responsible for this policy/procedure is: Andrea Phillips
This policy has been approved by the Board of Trustees.
Policy approved date 22nd October 2024
This policy is reviewed on an annual basis by the Board of Trustees.
Next Review due: October 2025