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Improving Animal Welfare
posted on 22/05/2008
Lorraine Barrett AM raises the issue of Animal Welfare to the Minister for Rural Affairs, Elin Jones.
Lorraine Barrett asked: Will the Minister outline any future plans for improving animal welfare in Wales under the Animal Welfare Act 2006?
Elin Jones: I have made £3 million available over the next three years to local authorities to develop an enhancement scheme for companion animal welfare. We are also finalising codes on cats, dogs, equines, cattle, sheep, pigs and laying hens and are fully evaluating the issues surrounding electric-shock dog collars.
Lorraine Barrett: Thank you for that response, particularly on the companion animal welfare grant funding. Yesterday, I had the dubious pleasure of being filmed by ITV Wales while being zapped on the hand by an electric-shock dog collar, as did a few other Members—and I can tell you, Minister, that it hurt. I believe that good dog owners and trainers can train their dogs with praise rather than punishment. What are your plans for banning such devices in Wales?
Elin Jones: I have refused the opportunity to be zapped by an electric-shock dog collar in case it influenced in any way my decision on legislation surrounding this issue. We have consulted, as you will know, on the banning of electric-shock dog collars in Wales. We received 173 responses to that consultation and we are currently reviewing the content of the consultation. I will make a statement on electric-shock dog collars before the summer recess.
Lorraine Barrett went on to raise concerns over the protection of badgers
Lorraine Barrett: On the protection of badgers, I have had representations from landowners from different parts of Wales, who are concerned that you might issue licences to kill badgers on their land. They want to be reassured that that would not happen without full and meaningful consultation with them as landowners.
Elin Jones: Landowners’ consent was also a feature of the badger cull trials in England. Once we have identified an area for a badger cull, we need to be clear about what is involved and the role of landowners and land users in that area.
