Pet Care Trust: Animal Welfare Bill still not right

The inclusion of the Animal Welfare Bill in the Queen's Speech was broadly welcomed by the Pet Care Trust. However, the Trust continued to voice concerns over government plans for an obligatory veterinary presence during licensing inspections. Janet Nunn, CEO, Pet Care Trust, commented: “As we've said ever since DEFRA first published the draft Animal Welfare Bill, obligatory veterinary inspections triggered by the public sector are completely unnecessary. Routine local authority inspections are inconsistent in quality and value. Our inspection regimes must be modernised and brought into the 21st century." Currently the average cost of a kennelling or pet shop licence nationally is around £100, with wide variations between local authorities, (ranging from £30-£260). The pet industry is concerned that veterinary inspections will involve large increases in annual licensing costs.