Wales steps ahead to improve dog welfare
The Welsh Government has made plans to prioritise steps to improve dog welfare and public safety, through key changes to dangerous dog legislation in Wales.
Carwyn Jones, First Minister of Wales, announced the plans which will see an overhaul of current dangerous dog legislation to ensure that new dog control procedures, through the introduction of a new Control of Dogs Bill next spring, will help to improve dog welfare and public safety.
This change would see a shift in focus to the behaviour of individual dogs rather than focussing on the breed; action would be taken where dogs attack people or animals on any property and will include the promotion of responsible dog ownership with training and education requirements for owners.
Communications Director at the Kennel Club, Caroline Kisko, said: “We are pleased that the Welsh Government are once again putting dog welfare at the top of their agenda by responding to our campaign efforts and making effective dog control one of their key legislative priorities.
“The proposed new Bill, similar to Scotland’s Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010, into which the Kennel Club had significant input, will pave the way for the rest of the UK in improving current dangerous dog legislation. What we now need is for Westminster to also put such vital changes in place for the benefit of public safety and animal welfare alike.”
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
