Animal Welfare -
Dogs/ Companion animals
T
he 'Companion
animal!'
Topics
B an of Electric Training Devices in Wales!
Wednesday 25 June 2008 - Wales proposes a ban electric training devices for pets
Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones has announced a proposed ban on the use of electric training aids. The ban would include shock collars and is a result of concerns about unnecessary suffering to pet animals.
A number of different electronic training aids are currently on sale and are mainly used on dogs. Some are designed to give the animal an electric shock in response to a particular undesirable behaviour.
The Minister has assessed responses to a Welsh Assembly Government consultation regarding the issue which expressed arguments for and against a ban on the devices.
Elin Jones said:
"This has not been an easy subject to examine. There is genuinely a large degree of concern about how these devices are improperly used, in contrast to responses from people who have used them and found they have worked in stopping an animal from misbehaving.
After giving due consideration to the arguments, I propose to introduce a ban on the use of electric shock collars in Wales. We will examine the possibility of certain restricted uses under veterinary and professional supervision and for controlled boundary fences".
The Welsh Assembly Government will produce, and consult on, draft detailed Regulations to introduce the proposed ban. They will give further consideration to whether the sale and possession of electric shock collars should be included in the ban.
The ban would be the first of its kind in the UK.
The use of the phrase 'companion animal' is preferred to that of 'pet'. The latter tends to be demeaning, implying a lack of any utility. It also fails to distinguish the relationship that may grow between man and animals that otherwise mainly perform utilitarian tasks, eg horses.
For more information, please e-mail companionanimalwelfare@wales.gsi.gov.uk
U
nderstand your
duty of care
Helping you to understand your duty of care
Codes of Practice for the Welfare of Cats, Dogs and Equines
The Welsh Assembly Government is due to publish codes of practice for the welfare of cats, dogs and equines at the end of November 2008.
Wales is the first country within Great Britain to produce codes of practice for companion animals under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Scottish equivalent, with codes from England and Scotland to follow shortly.
As with people, animals' needs vary greatly, therefore the codes of practice were not written as "one-size-fits-all" guidance. The Welsh Assembly Government has worked in conjunction with animal welfare specialists across Great Britain to create codes of practice that give practical advice to help owners and keepers to understand the welfare needs of their animals, which they are legally obliged to fulfill. The codes of practice apply to all cats, dogs and equines, not just those kept as pets; it has equal validity for working or stock animals. Colourful summaries of the dog and cat codes will be widely distributed to engage the widest possible readership.
Transporting of animals:
Whenever animals are transported, including journeys with pets, the law says that:
‘No person shall transport any animal in a way which causes or is likely to cause injury or unnecessary suffering to that animal.’
T
ransporting
of animals
Make sure your pet is fit to travel
Your pet should be healthy and fit for the intended journey. If necessary, ask your vet for advice before beginning the journey.
An animal is
not
normally fit for transport if it:
is ill or injured (except for minor illness or injury);
is newborn with an unhealed navel;
cannot feed itself and is not travelling with its mother;
has given birth within the 48 hours before starting the journey; or
is heavily pregnant and likely to give birth during the journey.
F it to travel?
Avoid Heat Stroke!
Never leave an animal in a vehicle in direct strong sunshine or high temperatures. Overheating, distress and suffering is likely when the temperature goes above 25°C for more than a few minutes (unless the animals are already used to hot weather). The temperature inside a car in full sun on a hot day can quickly rise to double the temperature outside, leading rapidly to distress for any animal in the vehicle.
A
void
Heat Stroke
R ecognise overheating
Dogs differ from people in how they cope with heat. They lose heat mainly by panting and, unlike people, do not sweat a lot. Long-haired dogs are more likely to be affected than those with short hair.
How you can recognise overheating
The first signs are often faster, heavier panting and more activity, with barking or whining. Dogs will look obviously agitated. The dog may produce more saliva than normal, often with drooling
and with strands of saliva hanging from the mouth. Extreme panting and dark-coloured gums will follow. The dog’s eyes may become glassy and it may appear to be unconscious. Once the dog’s body temperature is raised so much that cells begin to die, seizures, coma and death will follow.
Never leave an animal in a vehicle in direct strong sunshine or high temperatures. Overheating, distress and suffering is likely when the temperature goes above 25°C for more than a few minutes (unless the animals are already used to hot weather). The temperature inside a car in full sun on a hot day can quickly rise to double the temperature outside, leading rapidly to distress for any animal in the vehicle.
Detecting overheating early and treating it promptly is essential to your dog recovering successfully. Take the dog to a cool shaded place, give it water to drink and spray it with cool water (you can also cool down the dog by blowing cool air from a fan over it). Get advice from a vet immediately if the dog does not respond promptly.
Travelling by vehicle
The United Kingdom (UK) ‘Highway Code’ states: ‘When in a vehicle make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you if you stop quickly’. In some European countries, the law does not allow dogs to travel loose in vehicles.
Your pet should preferably travel in a container which meets particular standards A very small dog should
always
travel in a container, and the container should be placed where it
cannot move when you accelerate, brake and go round corners;
is easy to get to; and
is not exposed to strong sunlight or cold draughts.
If your dog travels loose in the vehicle, it should not be able to escape through any window. When windows need to be left open, ‘window guards’ may be used to prevent the animal escaping. If the dog is travelling in the luggage compartment of an estate car or hatchback, you should fit a secure dog-guard, and the floor should have a non-slip surface.
Providing enough ventilation at all times is essential – both when the vehicle is moving, and even more so when it is not moving – particularly in hot or sunny conditions.
Never leave your pet in a vehicle in direct strong sunshine or high temperatures as it is difficult to make sure there is enough ventilation to keep it cool.
There will be much less air flowing through the vehicle when it is in an enclosed space during ferry crossings (or on a train travelling through the Channel Tunnel) unless you leave the windows open enough.
You should carry water.
Guidance on pet containers
The guidance below will help you choose a container that is suitable for your dog and the type of transport. The advice about containers and their measurements is mainly for plane journeys, but the general principles also apply to other transport.
Your dog container should be a suitable size for your dog – it should be at least big enough for your dog to stand, sit and lie down in a natural position, and turn around easily. A container used to take
an animal on a short journey to the vet may not be suitable or large enough for a longer journey.
The container should not contain anything which could injure the animal. It should be designed so that no part of the animal (such as the head, paws or tail) can stick out or get trapped.
The container should provide enough ventilation and fresh air for your dog throughout the journey to make sure they do not get too hot.
Dog crates/containers
You can buy rigid plastic pet containers from good pet shops and suppliers. Or, the container can be made of other materials, particularly for large or aggressive dogs.
A container which is suitable for a short domestic journey may not necessarily be strong enough,
large enough, or suitably designed for long journeys, particularly by air
Container measurements
(All measurements are for the inside of the container.)
Size of animal
A is the length of the animal from its nose to the base of the tail.
B is the height from the ground to the animal’s elbow joint.
C is the width across the widest part of the shoulders.
D is the height of the animal standing up naturally, from top of
the head or the ear tip, whichever is higher.
Size of container
A +
1
/
2
B = length of the container.
C x 2 = width of the container.
D = height of the container
Contact In Wales
Welsh Assembly Government
Animal Transport and ID
Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer
Caernarfon
Wales LL55 1EP
Phone: +44 (0)1267 245 002
E-mail:
ocvoidandtrace@wales.gsi.gov.uk
T ravelling by vehicle
D og crates /containers
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