animal welfare

The Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill passed its Third Reading today, and will now go to the House of Lords. Animal charities welcomed this development, and urged speed in passing this Bill into law in order to protect animals as soon as possible.

Battersea has today (12 March) welcomed progress towards strengthening sentences for animal abusers after a long-awaited change in legislation completed its passage through the House of Commons.

RSPCA launches new #AnimalKind campaign to encourage everyone to do their bit for creatures great and small
Two-thirds of people think the UK should do more to help the welfare of animals, according to a new poll by the RSPCA.

Figures from the charity reveal that although a massive 85% consider themselves animal lovers, two in five (39%) feel a lack of money and a third (32%) cite a lack of time as barriers to doing more to help animals. Worryingly one in ten (11%) people felt that their actions couldn’t make a difference.

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is pleased with an Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee report on the welfare of domestic pets released today, 16 November.

The issue of backstreet dog breeding is one on which Battersea has long campaigned for change, and the new report addresses this subject, making several recommendations for change. Among other things, the EFRA report calls for a licence for anyone breeding more than two litters in a year, mandatory registration for all breeders, and the licensing of everyone selling animals online.

The animal welfare charity rescues thousands of animals a year from abusive situations - many of these animals have been subjected to horrific injuries from the use of weapons such as metal bars, knives, guns and crossbows.

For example, RSPCA figures reveal that air rifle injuries on animals had leapt up by almost 40 per cent to almost 800 attacks reported to the charity in 2012. The horrific attacks include several cats shot in the face and whose eyes had to be removed and others who did not survive after being shot.