We start of from the principle that animals are sentient beings, able to feel pain and fear, and that we have a duty to treat animals kindly and with respect. We also want to reconfirm our opposition to fox hunting and all other hunting of animals.
Welsh Government successes include.
· A law on the use of wild animals in circuses meaning it is now illegal to exhibit or use wild animals for performance in circuses.
· The production by the Welsh Government of a draft code of practice for animal sanctuaries.
· The Environment (Wales) Act that builds greater resilience into our ecosystems. Biodiversity underpins ecosystem resilience and the sustainable management of natural resources. Biodiversity and resilient ecosystems with their suite of habitats and species provide natural solutions that support human well-being and help adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change. We need to protect and enhance our biodiversity for present and future generations.
· The local authority dog breeding enforcement project started last year. Work is underway to tackle barriers to enforcement by enhanced training, including better guidance and improved use of resources within local authorities.
The areas where Progress is being made include:
· An enhanced form of “Lucy’s law” to stop third party sales of puppies and kittens has been promised by the Minister responsible to be enacted prior to the end of this Senedd session in March this year.
· Animal welfare sentencing law is moving closer and will increase from six months to five years the maximum sentence available to courts for many animal welfare offences. When this is passed at Westminster the Welsh Government will bring forward a consent motion for it to be enacted in Wales.
Next steps
We do not believe that horse owners set out to mistreat their horses but unfortunately ignorance can lead to suffering. It is important that horses are not left tethered for long periods of time. The prevalence of poor tethering practices in Wales suggests that the Code of Practice’s reference to this issue is not effective, and we have asked the Welsh Government to for more stringent guidance, change in enforcement practices and a change in legislation to better discourage and deter long-term tethering of horses.
We are opposed to individuals keeping primates such as monkeys and we believe the practice should be banned. Estimates suggest over one hundred primates are currently kept as pets in Wales. We are asking for a complete ban on the keeping of primates by individuals and whilst those currently being kept may have to stay with their current owners, unless animal sanctuaries can accommodate them, no more personal ownership should be allowed. We need the Welsh Government, at the minimum, to implement a legally enforceable code, but our preference is a complete ban on their private ownership.
Far too often when animals and their welfare is being considered sea life is forgotten. The seas are a life support system for us all. They provide us with food, materials for building, and oxygen. They support a huge array of species some of which we never see. We strongly support marine protected areas. We support the Welsh Government’s commitment to maintaining and enhancing marine biodiversity and ecosystems and their commitment to continue to work with the other UK administrations to fulfil our obligations.
Wales contains a diverse range of habitats that are important for birds. Some, such as the seabird colonies of Anglesey and Pembrokeshire remain very important.
Whilst there have been serious declines in many bird species, Wales nonetheless remains important for several species, or groups of species that share a habitat. We appreciate that many people feed garden birds during the winter. We would like to see a Government strategy to build up the small bird population of Wales.
A lot has been achieved and we know that an enhanced Lucy’s Law is imminent. There is still more to be done to protect horses, primates, sea life birds and other wildlife. We also face some wider challenges such as reversing habitat loss, enhancing biodiversity and protecting pollinators.
To quote from the Lion King the circle of life is nature’s way of taking and giving back life to earth.
