Monthly Archives: November 2016

A Review of the Protection of Wild Animals (Scotland) Act 2002 by Lord Bonomy has concluded that the legislation overly complicates the detection, investigation, and prosecution of the offences it covers. Furthermore, the Review concludes that there are grounds for suspecting that illegal hunts are taking place. Recommendations include: The Act should be given more clarity and the offences it covers should be simplified. Part-time hunt monitors should be appointed to randomly observe hunts using packs of dogs. Alternatively, a […]

The EFRA (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) Committee today published its Animal Welfare in England: Domestic Pets inquiry Report. ALAW contributed to the inquiry consultation period earlier this year. The Report makes a number of recommendations including: Any person who breeds two or more litters a year should be licensed as a breeder. • Licensing regulations should be updated. • The age that dogs can be brought into the UK from overseas should be increased to 6 months. • Websites […]

Defra has now published its Summary of Responses to its consultation on the licensing of animal establishments in England (the “Summary”) which ran for 12 weeks from 20 December 2015 until 12 March 2016. This article sets out the Summary’s key findings. In short, respondents were very positive about updating the licensing system. The Summary is available in full here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/552955/animal-establishments-consult-sum-resp.pdf BACKGROUND: THE EXISTING REGIME Local authorities are required by law to issue licences for specific animal-related establishments and activities, with […]