Proposed new rules affecting pet owners, livestock keepers and anyone who comes into contact with animals in Jersey are set to come under scrutiny.
The Scrutiny Panel review comes in the wake of moves by Environment Minister Steve Luce to update the framework for protecting animal welfare and bring in new powers for licensing, enforcement and standards of care.
After closely monitoring recent changes to the Dogs Law, which were brought forward by the Constables Committee and passed by the States Assembly last month, the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Panel stated that animal welfare needed to be considered alongside the specific measures for dogs.
Panel chair Deputy Hilary Jeune said the review would not only look at the structure of the Animal Welfare Law, but would evaluate how the proposed legislation would work with the Dogs Law and with regulations around how the island’s beaches, parks and roads are policed.
“This legislation impacts everyone”
She said: “The draft Animal Welfare Law is replacing the 2004 Law in order to shift from a reactive enforcement model towards a proactive, prevention-based system – we want to ensure that it is set up to achieve those aims, but at the same time look at the wider picture of animal welfare and control.
“This legislation impacts everyone – from pet or livestock owners, to those who work with animals and to any member of the public who could come into contact with an animal – it is important that we establish a modern, effective system that provides clarity for everyone and flexibility to address concerns.”
The changes to the Dogs Law included a requirement for owners of certain types of dog classed as “dangerous” to register their animals and comply with stipulations around breeding, neutering and muzzling the dogs in public.
Deputy Jeune’s panel expressed concerns about how the law would be enforced and how non-compliant dogs would be seized and dealt with, issues that may also form part of the latest review.
Further details can be found at here.