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| 'Woof guide' for Welsh pet owners | 'Woof guide' for Welsh pet owners |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Wales has become the first country in the UK to publish official guidance to help animal owners take care of their dogs, cats, horses and donkeys. | Wales has become the first country in the UK to publish official guidance to help animal owners take care of their dogs, cats, horses and donkeys. |
| The Welsh Assembly Government's code of practices inform people of their responsibilities as animal owners. | The Welsh Assembly Government's code of practices inform people of their responsibilities as animal owners. |
| Cat owners, for instance, are told that their pets need to eat meat and cannot be turned into vegetarians. | Cat owners, for instance, are told that their pets need to eat meat and cannot be turned into vegetarians. |
| Horse owners are warned to keep mares and stallions separate to "prevent aggression and amorous behaviour". | Horse owners are warned to keep mares and stallions separate to "prevent aggression and amorous behaviour". |
| Recent RSPCA figures have shown an increase in the number of cruelty investigations in recent years. | Recent RSPCA figures have shown an increase in the number of cruelty investigations in recent years. |
| In 2007 the organisation recorded just under 140,000 incidents of cruelty across England and Wales - up from 105,000 in 2003. | In 2007 the organisation recorded just under 140,000 incidents of cruelty across England and Wales - up from 105,000 in 2003. |
| href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5761">YOUR VIEWS class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5761">Next thing we will have 'official guidelines' on how to go to sleep, get up, get dressed, go to workWoof Woof | |
| Cases of abandonment are also said to be on the rise, suggesting that not everyone has fully considered their responsibilities as animal and pet owners. | Cases of abandonment are also said to be on the rise, suggesting that not everyone has fully considered their responsibilities as animal and pet owners. |
| The new codes are around 50 pages long and have been prepared under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. | The new codes are around 50 pages long and have been prepared under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. |
| Farm animals are already subject to similar codes of practice and the act provides the same protection for pet animals and horses. | Farm animals are already subject to similar codes of practice and the act provides the same protection for pet animals and horses. |
| The advice for dogs asks owners to ensure their pets have comfortable, draught-free resting areas which they can safely retire to and that each animal is fed at least once, and ideally, twice a day. | The advice for dogs asks owners to ensure their pets have comfortable, draught-free resting areas which they can safely retire to and that each animal is fed at least once, and ideally, twice a day. |
| Cat owners are asked to provide their pets with safe access to shelves and tops of cupboards so the cats have the opportunity to jump and climb. | Cat owners are asked to provide their pets with safe access to shelves and tops of cupboards so the cats have the opportunity to jump and climb. |
| Horse owners are also warned to avoid smoking near stables and to ensure any working horses are exercised for one hour in every six during the day. | Horse owners are also warned to avoid smoking near stables and to ensure any working horses are exercised for one hour in every six during the day. |
| Keeping a pet is a privilege not a right, they need a great deal of care and it is the case that not everyone realises that a commitment is needed Christianne Glossop, chief vet (centre) | Keeping a pet is a privilege not a right, they need a great deal of care and it is the case that not everyone realises that a commitment is needed Christianne Glossop, chief vet (centre) |
| The Codes of Practice for Dogs, Cats and Equines (which includes horses and donkeys) have all-party support with similar codes based on the Welsh version being prepared in England and Scotland. | The Codes of Practice for Dogs, Cats and Equines (which includes horses and donkeys) have all-party support with similar codes based on the Welsh version being prepared in England and Scotland. |
| Launching the codes at Greenmeadow Community Farm in Cwmbran, Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones urged anyone thinking of taking on a pet to check out the guides to understand what they will be letting themselves in for. | Launching the codes at Greenmeadow Community Farm in Cwmbran, Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones urged anyone thinking of taking on a pet to check out the guides to understand what they will be letting themselves in for. |
| "There may be people who will wonder why guidance is needed on the welfare of pet animals," she said. | "There may be people who will wonder why guidance is needed on the welfare of pet animals," she said. |
| "The sad truth is that while many people will care for their pet and provide them with a safe home for their lifetime far too many animals are subjected to cruel treatment and are abandoned. | "The sad truth is that while many people will care for their pet and provide them with a safe home for their lifetime far too many animals are subjected to cruel treatment and are abandoned. |
| "Cruelty figures continue to rise and we only have to look at reports in the media to see that this is a very real issue. | "Cruelty figures continue to rise and we only have to look at reports in the media to see that this is a very real issue. |
| "Taking on a pet is a big responsibility. These guides set out what is expected if someone is considering having a pet." | "Taking on a pet is a big responsibility. These guides set out what is expected if someone is considering having a pet." |
| Chief veterinary officer Christianne Glossop added: "Keeping a pet is a privilege not a right, they need a great deal of care and it is the case that not everyone realises that a commitment is needed when taking on a pet." | Chief veterinary officer Christianne Glossop added: "Keeping a pet is a privilege not a right, they need a great deal of care and it is the case that not everyone realises that a commitment is needed when taking on a pet." |
| The Kennel Club had been heavily involved in putting the codes together and congratulated the assembly government on being the first in the UK to implement them. | The Kennel Club had been heavily involved in putting the codes together and congratulated the assembly government on being the first in the UK to implement them. |
| Kennel Club secretary Caroline Kisko said: "We think that these codes represent a positive step forward in this area and we hope this will provide owners with a greater understanding of their duty of care under the Animal Welfare Act." | Kennel Club secretary Caroline Kisko said: "We think that these codes represent a positive step forward in this area and we hope this will provide owners with a greater understanding of their duty of care under the Animal Welfare Act." |
| The director of veterinary services at Cats Protection Maggie Roberts added: "It is a positive step forward to ensure that all cats have their physical and emotional needs met." | The director of veterinary services at Cats Protection Maggie Roberts added: "It is a positive step forward to ensure that all cats have their physical and emotional needs met." |
| World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers said: "The code is a critical element of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 as it sets a baseline for meeting the needs of all horses. | World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers said: "The code is a critical element of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 as it sets a baseline for meeting the needs of all horses. |
| "It provides helpful advice for existing and potential horse owners, as well as greatly assisting the authorities should problems arise." | "It provides helpful advice for existing and potential horse owners, as well as greatly assisting the authorities should problems arise." |