Our guide to
animal welfare
www.themayhew.org
The Animal Welfare Act was introduced in 2006 and means that any person who owns or is responsible for an animal has a legal duty of care for that animal. The Act requires that you must provide for your animals’ basic welfare needs: • A proper diet, including fresh water • A suitable living environment
• The ability to express normal behaviour • The need to be housed with, or apart from, other animals • Protection from, and treatment of, illness and injury
The Mayhew’s Animal Welfare Officers assess welfare standards and an animal’s welfare needs. If a welfare issue is identified they will record this on an Improvement Notice and a follow up process will be initiated to ensure the issue is resolved. The Improvement Notice is not a statutory notice or legally binding, however the advice given should be followed to ensure your animal’s welfare needs are met in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Welfare need 1: a proper diet, including fresh water
Your animal should have access to fresh, clean, drinkable water at all times. The time of year and temperature, as well as the age and size of your animal, will affect how much water they need. You must ensure sufficient fresh water is readily available.
A balanced diet is important to ensure your animal receives the full range of nutrients needed for their age and species. Enough food should be provided to satisfy their hunger and keep them fit and healthy.
Hunger is what drives all living creatures to seek food and eat. However, hunger should not be allowed to continue over such a long period that your animal has to eat something harmful, or becomes weak or underweight. Sufficient nutritious food should be available as often as required and it should be of acceptable taste. You must ensure that all animals, not just dominant ones, are able to eat the food you provide.
Welfare need 2: a suitable living environment The living area you provide for your animal should be suitable for the species and size, and should take into account the number of animals kept together. It should provide protection from fear, distress and discomfort and have enough space to allow your animal to practice normal behaviour.
The environment should be kept clean and in good condition, with no threat of disease through uncleanliness. The area should be free from hazards such as sharp edges, fixtures and fittings, dust, fumes or poisonous substances. Your animal should have access to suitable shelter from extremes of weather and be provided with a comfortable resting area that is dry, clean, warm and secure.
Welfare need 3: the ability to express normal behaviour
All animals have their own normal behaviours and it is your legal duty of care to meet these needs. Normal behaviours include feeding, resting, exercising, playing, socialising and grooming.
You should provide the correct environment and enough space for your animal to move freely and exercise. To prevent your animal becoming bored or isolated you should socialise with it regularly and provide the company of other compatible animals where appropriate.
Welfare need 4: the need to be housed with, or apart from, other animals
Most animals enjoy and need company. Animals should be given the company of others of their own kind where appropriate, and at the very least the company of their owner or person responsible for their care. Your animal should not be kept away from the sight, sound and smell of others of its own kind unless absolutely necessary and they must not become bored or isolated. Your animal needs company to be able to exhibit their normal behaviours such as feeding, guarding, learning and socialising.
Welfare need 5: protection from, and treatment of, illness and injury
You should inspect your animal regularly to check they are free from any pain, injury, disease or suffering. An animal owner/handler must understand basic animal behaviour to ensure their animal does not experience fear or stress. If your animal appears to be unwell, suffering from stress or in pain they must be cared for appropriately and if they do not respond to this care, professional advice must be sought immediately.
Signs of pain, injury, disease or suffering to look out for: •
withdrawn or aggressive behaviour
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restricted movement/limping
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loss of bodily fluid (more than usual)
• • • • • • • • • • • •
losing body weight
fever, sweating or excess panting
external injury, disease or infection internal parasites (worms)
external parasites (fleas, ticks, mites) diarrhoea
coughing or sneezing
fluid discharges from eyes, nose, etc depression or stress
dullness of coat or eyes change in appetite
nusual/additional vocalisation (cats u meowing, dogs barking, etc)
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