Department publishes Animal Welfare Service Delivery Statistical Bulletin 2016/17

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) today began publishing Animal Welfare Service Delivery Statistics on its website www.daera-ni.gov.uk.

Head of Animal Health and Welfare, Jackie Robinson said: “Putting these figures in the public domain is an important step for the Department to highlight the issue of animal welfare.

“It also shows the amount of work which goes on between the enforcement agencies – PSNI, local councils and DAERA – in this area. Obviously, prevention is better than cure when it comes to the mistreatment of animals, and the vast majority of owners and keepers comply with their duty of care.

“However, these figures show that, when animal welfare cases arise, enforcement bodies will investigate and impose penalties where appropriate, and do so in partnership with the wider authorities.”

In Northern Ireland, the welfare of animals is protected by the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (the 2011 Act). The 2011 Act includes a duty of care in respect of all “protected animals” (i.e. animals under the control of a person, whether permanently or temporarily).

The three bodies responsible for the enforcement of the 2011 Act are:

• Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) (farmed animals); 
• Councils (non-farmed animals, such as domestic pets and horses); 
• Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) (wildlife crime, animals on the road and other criminal activity such as dog fighting).

Enforcement officers investigate complaints and take action to ensure the owner or keeper complies with legislation. The penalties for animal welfare convictions include fines, liability for costs, community service and disqualifications from keeping animals. If the case warrants it, custodial sentences can be imposed.

The statistical bulletin sets out information relevant to the public in relation to the animal welfare service provided by each of the three enforcement bodies. It includes details on a range of topics such as complaints received, visits carried out and follow-up action taken. 

Notes to editors: 

1. The statistics can be accessed on the DAERA website.

2. Public facing information about animal welfare advice and guidance can be found on the NI Direct website.

3. The Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 makes provision for the protection of vertebrate animals in Northern Ireland, for example:

• It specifies that it is an offence to fail to take reasonable steps to ensure the needs of an animal for which a person is responsible, are met.
• It specifies that it is an offence to take any action, or fail to take action, that causes an animal to suffer unnecessarily.
• It sets out powers available to Inspectors, to ensure compliance with the Act, for example powers to carry out inspections, and powers to issue improvement notices.
• It enables Inspectors and Constables to take possession of an animal which is suffering or is likely to suffer.
• It provides that a person can be deprived of possession or ownership of an animal on conviction for certain specified offences, and that a person can be disqualified from participating in animal–related activities following conviction for certain offences.

4. A review of the implementation of the 2011 Act, in 2015, recommended that DAERA should publish an annual report setting out information relevant to the public in relation to the animal welfare service provided by each of the three enforcement bodies.  This is the first such annual report.

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6. All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office on 028 9052 4619 or email DAERA Press Office. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07623 974 383 and your call will be returned.

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