Animal Welfare Act 2006

An Act which aims to promote the welfare of domestic and non-wild animals. The Act deals with preventing harm to an animal, the promotion of animal welfare, licensing and regulation of animals, the issuing of codes of practice, dealing with animals in distress, enforcement, prosecution and conviction powers. The five welfare needs of an animal include (Section 9 (2)):
“(a) its need for a suitable environment,
(b) its need for a suitable diet,
(c) its need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns,
(d) any need it has to be housed with, or apart from, other animals, and
(e) its need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.”