Animal welfare

Plymouth City Council has adopted the following declaration of intent for the welfare of animals.

In as much as there is ample evidence that many animal species are capable of feeling, we condemn totally the infliction of unnecessary suffering upon our fellow creatures and the unreasonable curtailment of their behavioural and other needs.

We do not accept that a difference in species alone can justify wanton exploitation in the name of science or sport or for the use as food, for commercial profit or for other human gain.

We believe that as moral agents humans have a responsibility for the welfare of all captive and domestic animals and all wild animals in so far that human activities impinge upon them.

We therefore call for the establishment of highest welfare standards for all those animals used by humans and for the protection of every animal against unnecessary suffering.

Working towards achieving the sentiments expressed in the declaration, the City Council has devised a series of suggestions and measures.

Companion animals

To control and protect dogs in the community, Plymouth City Council will fully publicise the Dog Warden Service and will develop the Advisory, Educative and Social Welfare Role of the Service.

The Council supports the introduction of a National Dog Registration Scheme.

The Council believes that supporting a policy of neutering could reduce the number of feral cats. The Council also supports a policy of intervention, which includes worming, and/or rehoming unwanted, mistreated and abandoned animals.

The Council supports the view that the proper control and welfare of domestic animals and domestic pets in urban areas required Government or other funded clinics.

Pet shops

Plymouth City Council has a duty to licence pet shops under the provisions of the Pet Animals Act 1951. In carrying out this duty the Environmental Health Service will interview applicants for such licences to ensure that they are fit and proper persons will try to get voluntary agreement on the following:

• the proprietor of the pet shop agreeing to abide by the standard licence condition for pet shops drawn up by the Association of District Councils, the Pet Trade and Industry Association and the British Veterinary Association, and the Pet Care Charter drawn up by the Pet Trade and Industry Association Ltd, for retailers.
• at least one member of the staff of a pet shop should hold a City and Guilds Certificate in Pet Shop Management or its equivalent.
• the licence holder of a pet shop should not stock or sell wild caught birds and animals banned from trade. Plymouth City Council will consider ways in which it can assist the Animal Welfare Organisations in publicising healthy rescued animals seeking new homes.

Exotic animals

Plymouth City Council will continue to enforce rigorously the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 and will do all it can to discourage the keeping and sale of exotic animals.

Animals as prizes

Plymouth City Council supports the Animal Welfare Organisations in opposing the giving of animals as prizes.

Control of animal breeding and boarding establishments

Plymouth City Council has a duty to enforce the Animal Boarding Establishment Act 1963, the Riding Establishments Acts 1964/1970, Breeding of Dogs Acts 1973/1991, Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999 and will continue to do so rigorously.

Performing animals

Plymouth City Council will not allow on any council owned land, rodeos, circuses or travelling menageries which include performing animals, and will use its statutory powers to prevent performing animal acts in theatres wherever possible.

Comment

The Council believes that there is no educative value from performing animals and feels that the tradition has been superseded by easier access to wildlife. The Council will continue to support and welcome non-animal circuses to the city.

Reading this paragraph in conjunction with the Declaration of Intent (Para 2) has the effect of banning animals from performances at the Theatre Royal, the Pavilions or similar premises which the Council manages or has an interest in unless the animal concerned does no itself perform and the viability of an artistic would be prejudiced without the presence of the animal. Wherever such a presence is intended, the RSPCA shall be consulted for animal welfare advice.

Plymouth City Council will not allow rodeos on Council owned or managed land.

Plymouth City Council will ensure that minimum standards are maintained at donkey derbies held on council owned land.

Plymouth City Council will not allow the following practices at show jumping and eventing held on council owned or managed land:

• striking with the whip, so as to cause distress or suffering.
• competition where obstacles are unreasonably difficult.
• the use of training methods, which cause distress or suffering.
• the use of drugs to alter the performance of the horse or to enable it to compete.

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Animals in films

Plymouth City Council will oppose the public showing of any film where its production has involved the infliction of pain or terror on any animal, or the cruel goading of any animal to fury. The council will also draw to the attention of the RSPCA any showing of such films, which may be an offence under the Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act 1937.

Wildlife

Plymouth City Council will support measures aimed at the conservation of wild life through the establishment of local wildlife parks, nature reserves, trails and conservation areas within the urban area. The Council will emphasise good management and will monitor all such facilities. The Council, through the Planning Services, will advise other landowners in the City on the establishment of such areas.

The Protection of Badgers Act 1992 prohibits interference with badgers and their setts and Plymouth City Council will ensure that the law is diligently enforced on any land owned or administered by the Council.

Hunting with dogs

Plymouth City Council is opposed to hunting fox, deer or hare with dogs, and will not allow hunting with dogs on land owned or administered by the council, and supports parliamentary measures to outlaw this practice.

Agrochemicals and pesticides

Plymouth City Council opposes the unnecessary use of these chemicals.  In the furtherance of this policy the council will:

• not allow the use of strychnine as a method of controlling moles or other animals by Council employees or their contractors.
• ensure that horticultural staff work closely with animal welfare groups to use methods of weed control, etc. which are not harmful to wildlife, and wherever possible, weeds will be controlled by the use of human labour and not chemicals. If chemicals must be used, they should be of a type, which would have a minimum effect on the environment.
• ensure that where practicable, and desirable, hedgerows and roadside banks under Council control will be uncut providing safe habitats for birds and animals during the breeding season, and encouraging the growth of wild flowers.

Plymouth City Council opposes the indiscriminate destruction of animals habitats caused as a direct result of unnecessary drainage of wetlands, the felling of trees, the removal of hedgerows and the filling in of ponds.

This will be borne in mind by the Planning Committee when granted planning consents and developers will be encouraged to transplant areas of natural growth rather than destroy areas of animal habitat. Developers will be asked to consider providing bird tables/nesting boxes and bat boxes as part of their developments.  Management of parks and gardens will be modified where possible to give greater priority to ecological considerations.

Snares

Plymouth City Council is opposed to the use of all snares and other traps which cause suffering to animals. It approves of live traps only when certain conditions are adhered to.

New or renewed leases on Council owned/managed land will include a clause reflecting this.

Live traps will be permitted for justifiable reasons. These traps would be under the control of a skilled person and would adhere strictly to legislative controls.

The Council welcomes the formation of local badger protection groups and will consider ways in which they may support these groups and others set up to support other wild life illegally hunted.  It will support prosecutions of individuals or groups involved in illegal hunting.

Animal products

Plymouth City Council supports the sale and use of cruelty-free cosmetics and associated products.

Plymouth City Council supports peaceful and non-violent campaigns attempting to seek a ban on the sale of goods which involve the use of wild animal skins or any animal fur products, and supports the continued rigorous enforcement of the regulations which apply the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora (cites).

Angling

Plymouth City Council will campaign for a reform of angling practices to reduce the suffering caused to fish and to avoid damage to the environment.

The Council will encourage anglers to adopt the following Code of Practice based on the Medway Report:

• the use of double and treble hooks should be avoided especially when the intention is to return the fish alive to the water.
• fish that have swallowed the hook and those intended for food should be killed humanely before any attempt is made to unhook them.
• to assist in removing hooks all anglers should possess suitable disgorgers appropriate to the size, and species of fish they are likely to catch.
• the use of barbless hooks is likely to cause less injury to the fish's mouth and, being easier to remove, reduce the amount of handling required.
• if keep nets are used, fish should be confined for the shortest possible time, to reduce the risk of injury.
• great care should be taken when handling fish to minimise damage to the thin protective layer of skin and mucus covering the scales. Damage to this layer will increase the chance of infection and reduce the ability of the fish to survive.
• prolonged playing of fish, especially those destined to be returned to the water, and the use of ultra-fine tackle, which necessitates such playing, should be avoided.
• fish, which are to be killed following capture, should be dispatched as quickly as possible. Anglers should know how to kill a fish humanely.
• in view of the dangers posed to wildlife and other animals by discarded fishing tackle, anglers should take the greatest care to ensure that all litter is disposed of safely.

Angling clubs fishing in Council controlled waters or from Council controlled land will be encouraged to arrange for younger members to receive guidance from qualified instructors concerning the biology of fish and their relationships with invertebrate animals in order to help reduce the incidence of inconsiderate behaviour towards them.

Education

Plymouth City Council as the Local Education Authority will encourage the use of videos and computer simulations for teaching anatomy and physiology, and to include wildlife and conservation as part of the curriculum in both primary and secondary schools.

Transport of food animals

Plymouth City Council calls upon the ministry of agriculture, fisheries and food or their agents to enforce rigorously the welfare of animals (transport) order 1997 anywhere within the city boundary.

Plymouth City Council will support a ban on the export or transport to Europe of live equines for slaughter and will support a campaign in Europe for a maximum journey time for all food animals of 8 hours from loading at the farm to unloading at the slaughterhouse.

Meals

In Plymouth City Council run facilities, or where it has an influence, at least one vegetarian meal will appear on all menus and vegan food will be made available on request.

Animal experimentation

Plymouth City Council will do all it can to ensure that any designated scientific procedures establishment within Plymouth complies fully with the spirit and provisions of the animals (scientific procedures) act 1986 and the European Community Directive 86/609/eec.

Slaughtering of food animals

Plymouth City Council will, through the Environmental Regulation Service, ensure that the requirements of the Slaughterhouses Act 1974, the Meat Inspection (Amendment) Regulations 1990, the Slaughter of Animals (Humane Conditions) Regulations 1990, and the Welfare of Animals at Slaughter Act 1991 are strictly enforced where appropriate.

Tethering of horses and ponies

Plymouth City Council will not allow the tethering of horses and ponies over protracted periods on land owned or managed by the council, and will ensure that the Protection Against Cruel Tethering Act 1988 is adhered to.

The Council undertakes to amend and update this Charter from time to time in light of changes in national legislation and local circumstances.

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