CAUSEWAY COAST DOG RESCUE IS EXTREMELY DISSAPOINTED TO LEARN OF THE LACK OF COMMITMENT BY THE EXECUTIVE ON DRIVING FORWARD ANIMAL WELFARE REFORM IN NORTHERN IRELAND

Earlier this year, CCDR distributed a letter to Ministers, MLAs, Council Chief Executives and Councillors to outline concerns on an animal welfare service which is not fit for purpose.  CCDR also identified three priorities for taking forward the Reform of Animal Welfare and the Importance of these priorities to supporting our local communities. One of these priorities was for the Minister for DAERA, Andrew Muir MLA to design and impliment an Animal Welfare Strategy, to be incorporated in the forthcoming Programme for Goverment document to ensure a commitment to ‘Animal Welfare Reform’.

Unfortunately, the one line included in the Programme for Government document, which mentions animal welfare, does not have a supporting statement to what, ‘To ensure high standards of animal welfare for our domestic and non-domestic animals, we are seeking long-term arrangements to secure a veterinary medicine agreement that works for the sector’, actually means, and how this will be delivered within the timeframe outlined.

PROGRAMME FOR GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION – Page 68.

“To ensure high standards of animal welfare for our domestic and non-domestic animals, we are seeking long-term arrangements to secure a veterinary medicine agreement that works for the sector.”

Draft Programme for Government 2024-2027 ‘Our Plan: Doing What Matters Most’- Documents | Northern Ireland Executive

Members of CCDR are extremely perplexed to how the Executive has ascertained that by securing a veterinary medicine agreement, it will ‘ensure high standards of animal welfare for our domestic and non-domestic animals’…especially if you start to take into account, just a small number of the daily issues experienced by animal welfare charities, which include…

1. 1. Abuse and abandonment of companion animals
   2. Breeding and breeders not meeting the five needs in legislation
   3. Illegal breeding and low level of enforcement resulting from informed reporting
   4. Illegal dog fighting enforcement
   5. Increase in banned dog breeds
   6. Non enforcement of microchipping, owners not meeting the legislation
   7. The need for a ‘fit for purpose’ dog warden service
   8. The need for a ‘fit for purpose’ animal welfare service which ensure zero cost to ratepayers
   9. The need for Alignment of necessary animal welfare legislation with the rest of UK, and Ireland where identified
   10. The need for Accountability and transparency in all government animal welfare services
   11. Lack of understanding and accountability relating to roles and responsibilities within local government, DAERA and PSNI,
   12. Impact on health services from dog bites and elderly refusing operations and treatment due to non-support network
   13. Lack of a holistic approach to ensure communities are safe in their environments, able to rent accommodation and are appropriately informed on how to report and support the services.
   14. The need to understand the contribution and commitment from animal welfare charities to support local government in their legislative responsibility
   15. The Need for Regulation in animal welfare charities and all private and voluntary agencies working on behalf of companion animals in any capacity

We have written to each Minister asking for clarification on the PfG statement and how they expect to progress animal welfare reform, taking into consideration the above fifteen points, as the start of a long list of failings in the services.

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