With eight weeks to go before the country goes to the polls, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has launched its first ever Manifesto as the countdown to the 2015 General Election begins.
The Manifesto, which is designed as an informative political wall calendar featuring Battersea’s canine and feline friends, has been sent to MPs and Prospective Parliamentary Candidates in every constituency of the UK. It aims to guide MPs in the next Parliament through the year, with Battersea’s animals highlighting key welfare issues, which need political support in addressing.
Amongst the measures included are Battersea’s political asks from its campaign to ‘End Backstreet Breeding’, seeking to ban the sale of puppies under eight weeks old and for a reduction in the licensing threshold for breeders from five to two litters in a year.
Other priorities include calls for tougher and longer sentences for animal cruelty, an end to breed specific legislation, and a ban on electric shock and prong collars.
Dee McIntosh, Battersea’s Director of Communications said:
“At Battersea we deal with some of the most challenging situations that impact on the lives of dogs and cats and the communities in which we live. We accept animals in need of our help irrespective of their age, condition or breed, every day of every year.
“This means Battersea is the first to see changing trends, we’re a leader in tackling emerging and worsening welfare issues and this gives us a unique perspective on some of the most serious challenges to animal welfare today.
“We’ll never shy away from difficult issues and we are looking forward to working with the next Government to help make a difference for more animals in need over the coming years.”
The manifesto can be found online at http://www.battersea.org.uk/apex/webarticle?pageId=084-keypolicymessages