Draft Animal Welfare (Jersey) Law 202- (P.97/2025): amendment

Published on: 23 January 2026

Lodged by: Minister for the Environment

Debate date: 24 March 2026

Reference: P.97/2025 Amd.

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STATES OF JERSEY

DRAFT ANIMAL WELFARE (JERSEY) LAW 202- (P.97/2025): AMENDMENT

Lodged au Greffe on 23rd January 2026 by the Minister for the Environment Earliest date for debate: 24th February 2026

STATES GREFFE

DRAFT ANIMAL WELFARE (JERSEY) LAW 202- (P.97/2025): AMENDMENT

PAGE 35, ARTICLE 40 –

In Article 40 –

(a) after paragraph (1), insert –

(2) In Article 1 of the Dogs (Jersey) Law 1961, for the definition "animal shelter" there is substituted –

"animal shelter" means a place (including a private dwelling) that regularly receives, for the purpose of temporary or permanent accommodation with or without the provision of treatment –

abandoned animals;
animals separated from their keeper for any reason; or
animals previously living wild in Jersey that have been captured because they are injured or sick;

(b) renumber the subsequent paragraphs accordingly.

MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

REPORT

Dogs (Jersey) Law 1961 most recent amendment dated 2/12/2025 defines, on Part 1 (Interpretation), paragraph 1, "animal shelter" – as a business licensed as an animal sanctuary under Article 15 of the Animal Welfare (Jersey) Law 2004.

If the Draft Animal Welfare (Jersey) Law 202- is agreed and then implemented, it would be required to amend the Dogs (Jersey) Law 1961 to ensure continuity and establish an adequate and workable definition of "animal shelter", since any references to the Animal Welfare (Jersey) Law 2004 would become invalid.

This amendment therefore substitutes the definition of "animal shelter" in the Dogs (Jersey) Law 1961 which stated it as a business licensed as an animal sanctuary under Article 15 of the Animal Welfare (Jersey) Law 2004 by:

" "animal shelter" means a place (including a private dwelling) that regularly receives, for the purpose of temporary or permanent accommodation with or without the provision of treatment –

abandoned animals;
animals separated from their keeper for any reason; or
animals previously living wild in Jersey that have been captured because they are injured or sick;"

This is a consequential amendment as does not change any substantially requirements of either of the two laws.

Financial and staffing implications

There are no financial or staffing implications.

Children's Rights Impact Assessment

A Children's Rights Impact Assessment (CRIA) is not required for this amendment as there are no further impacts on children than in P.97/2025.