A New Day, but Work to Protect Animals Never Ends
As we awake on the first day, post-Brexit, we want to assure you that we will be continuing to ensure that we retain Britain’s high animal standards.
Whilst last year saw us edge ever closer to many vital pieces of legislation protecting animals, the job is not yet done. Many of these have failed to pass the final hurdles and working with others we will strive to have recognition of animal sentience, harsher penalties for animal cruelty and a ban on trophy hunting enshrined in UK law.
Our priorities in these coming weeks will be to ensure the Government commits to:
- Reintroducing/delivering the agricultural bill as a matter of urgency
- Ensuring our borders are policed and protected against illegally imported animals and ensuring the health of those in the already in the UK
- Amending pet passports so they continue to protect animals
- Minimising our global impact and ensuring we do not compromise on environmental protection
- Promising to guarantee the highest standards for imports and protecting the agriculture community
Environment Minister, Theresa Villiers, has already announced that we will not accept chlorinated chicken and we now hope that she will be as firm on ensuring that legislation is introduced to ensure that:
- Primates are not kept as pets
- Trophy hunting imports and exports are banned
- Animal sentience is recognised and enshrined in UK law
- Tougher regulation of the pet trade is delivered
- Long-distance live animal transport is banned
Above all, we want to ensure that animal welfare is at the forefront of people’s minds and will strive for a better deal for animals. Like with the recent consultations, there may be an opportunity for you to help achieve bans and changes in legislation so watch this space on how you can help.
