An overview of Animal Welfare Acts within the UK
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By choosing to have animals in our care, we have a moral and legal duty of care to ensure their welfare is met. This duty is governed by relevant legislation, dependent on which country we reside in. The UK has three Animal Welfare Acts: one for England and Wales, one for Scotland, and one for Northern Ireland.
Animal welfare issues are devolved within the UK, so the current legislation to protect domestic animals, or captive wild animals under the care of man, falls under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (England and Wales), the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 and the Welfare of Animals (Northern Ireland) Act 2011.
These Acts put the responsibility of the animals’ welfare solely onto the owner or care giver, and requires that they must take reasonable steps to meet the animals’ basic welfare needs and prevent unnecessary suffering. Failure to do so is an offence, and is prosecutable.
Welfare needs and Codes of Practice
The basic welfare needs of animals under the Animal We...
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