New animal cruelty legislation is due to be lodged “before the summer break”, the Environment Minister has confirmed.
In a letter made public this week, Deputy Steve Luce outlined the current progress of the new Animal Welfare legislation – which is currently in the drafting stage.
He confirmed that he intended to lodge the new Animal Welfare legislation “before the summer break”, but noted that “speed of progress will depend on future comments from Law Drafters and the consultation process”.
Deputy Luce added that “extensive work” has been done on four other pieces of legislation that are set to be implemented at the same time.
This includes the Docking of Dogs’ Tails Order, the Prohibited Activities Order, Prohibited Practices (Mutilations), and Licensed Activities.
The Minister added that the Government is also “considering reviewing other welfare related legislation” – including the Animal Welfare (Calves) (Jersey) Order 2020, and provisions for welfare of animals at the time of killing.
The update follows growing calls from the JSPCA to raise the standard for what constitutes neglect in the island.
Speaking to Express recently, JSPCA Interim CEO Tom Noel argued that pet owners should be required to take proper responsibility for the emotional, environmental and health needs of their animals – and not just give them food and water.
Mr Noel explained that under current legislation, owners only had to make sure that their animals were fed and watered, with other forms of potential neglect much harder to take action on.
He explained, for example, that a dog might be locked in a shed all day, with no walks, love or company – but the situation would not trigger an automatic right for the animal to be seized if its nutrition was provided for.
The comments come following the launch of a consultation by the States Vet, who is looking at reviewing and overhauling the island’s 20-year-old anti-cruelty legislation.
Under the current framework, only the States Vet can seize animals from licensed premises without a warrant – with JSPCA inspectors requiring a warrant and police assistance to remove animals from private properties.
Mr Noel described the reform as a “once-in-a-decade opportunity” to modernise the law and strengthen protections for the future.
He said that the review should consider the hurdles and barriers to the efficient and effective protection of animals.
The JSCPA boss said that he wanted the charity to bring together the disparate and often unconnected people and organisations involved in the care of animals so that they could speak with one strong voice.
The developments were outlined at the JSPCA’s strategy evening earlier this month, where members of the committee and chief vet Susana Ramos also discussed the organisation’s progress, challenges and plans.
