After recent tv exposes, the Dogs4Us store on Agecroft Road, Pendlebury, has seen growing protests which have been supported by local councillors and Salford and Eccles MP Rebecca Long Bailey (see previous Salford Star articles click here and click here).
Now, Salford City Council is consulting on new proposals to improve animal welfare in the city which will see stricter conditions for granting pet shop licences.
Amongst the amendments to current regulations are a tightening up on the animal expertise of those who sell animals, increased training for those who handle animals, provable humane transport of animals to shops, a clampdown on the treatment and sale of ill animals, and an improvement of the condition in which animals are kept.*
The pet shop licences will cover the sale of all animals, from puppies to fish, to rabbits and reptiles, and charges for licences will be increased to cover the cost of, hopefully, better and more frequent inspections.
"The Council already implements the national pet shop guidelines but has reviewed and amended them to ensure that they are in line with other local authorities across Greater Manchester and reflect current best practice" states Salford Council "If the new requirements are introduced it would result in improved clarity to the conditions, and animal welfare requirements as well as reflecting changes in other new animal laws."
Reacting to the proposals this morning, Boycott Dogs4Us founder, Aran Mathai, said: "We cautiously welcome this move from the Council. We hope the Council will go beyond their current suggestions for amendments and will take real action to prevent the sale of puppy farm dogs in Salford."
Salford City Council is consulting the community on the proposals until October 21st see the full proposals click here
Email comments on the proposals to environmentalhealth@salford.gov.uk
Some of the proposals...
* Inspection of premises must be granted "at all reasonable time", and that the Council "reserves the right to refuse a licence if the standards at the premises are unsatisfactory or if the terms of the licence are not being complied with".
* "All sick animals to be removed immediately from sale and isolated" and that "Suitably trained staff must always be available to care for such animals especially at weekends and holiday periods...Any animal exhibiting signs of suffering must be immediately removed from sale and be placed in the approved quarantine area and the licensee or veterinary surgeon informed".
* Animals with infectious or contagious diseases "shall not be offered for sale unless having received appropriate treatment and free from disease, illness or infestation".
*"Puppies and kittens must be kept in the litter group they were weaned in and be kept separate from other litters or animals of different origins unless doing so would result in individual animals being kept in isolation."
*"All animals must be allowed a suitable acclimatisation period, appropriate to the species, before sale."
* "When receiving stock, the licensee must ensure that they are transported in a suitable manner."
* "Any animals received or consigned shall be transported according to the regulations laid down by the Transit of Animals (General) Order 1973, Welfare of Animals in Transport Order (2006) or other relevant legislation or recommendations and as subsequently amended."
*"All stock sold must be in good health as far as can be reasonably determined without veterinary inspection."
(1).JPG)
(1).JPG)
(1).JPG)
(1).JPG)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
(3).jpeg)
.png)
(1).JPG)
