It’s a Dog’s Life: Animal Health & Welfare in Scotland Today

Posted: March 27, 2007

Download Full Article: Its a Dogs Life.pdf

Introduction
Animal health is a very topical issue in Scotland at present and it should be clear that we are not just talking about fox hunting and tail docking but about a whole range of animals and their welfare.  Farmers and those involved in estate management require to be made aware of the wide range of issues now covered by legislation in Scotland.

Background to the Law
The most up to date legislation is the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.  The majority of the provisions of this Act came into force on 6 October 2006.  It is described as being an Act to amend the Animal Health Act 1981, to make provisions to prevent the spread of disease and the welfare of animals.  The welfare provisions of this Act modernise and bring together in one statute some 20 Acts relating to the welfare of captive and domestic animals in Scotland.  Repealed Acts include the Cockfighting Act 1952 (c.59), the Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925 (c.38) and the Protection of Animals (Scotland) Act 1993 (c.15). 

The 2006 Act is essentially an enabling measure bit of hybrid as does bit of both].  It sets out the broad fundamental principles of animal welfare and allows more specific provisions to be made in the form of secondary legislation.  The advantage of this is that it will enable up to date secondary legislation to be made in order to keep pace with the developments of animal science and to enable quick action to be taken if and when required in order to react to any particular issue which might arise in the future.

(For full paper please download using link at the top of the page.)