Reporting of allegations of cruelty to States Veterinary Officer

1240/5(2589)

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE BY THE DEPUTY OF ST. MARTIN

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 5th JULY 2005

Question 1

Will the President inform members of the number of allegations of cruelty, if any, reported to the States Veterinary Officer for each year since January 2001 in respect of the following groups of animals -

(a ) ca ts;

(b ) d ogs;

(c ) ca ttle;

(d ) h orses; and,

(e ) all other animals?

Of the total number above, how many prosecutions, if any, followed the allegations and how many were successful?

Answer

Unfortunately the detailed statistics requested cannot be compiled by 5th July 2005, due to the absence of the States Veterinary Officer (SVO) from the Island on annual leave. These figures will be made available during the following week. To give a complete picture it will also be necessary to liaise with the Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (JSPCA) as many of the allegations will have been received directly by the JSPCA without reference to the SVO.

Question 2

Following the States approval of P.126/2003 on 20th April 2004, (Draft Animal Welfare (Jersey) Law 200-) which requires owners of premises boarding cats, dogs or grooming animals for reward to be licensed, will the President inform members of the number of licences required in respect of -

(a ) k ennels;

(b ) ca tteries; and, (c ) g roomers?

Answer

This information is not known beyond that which could be ascertained by reference to commercial advertisements. It is proposed that a notice would be placed in the Gazette requiring all such premises to apply for the necessary licences.

Question 3

Since January 2001, how many of the establishments listed in question 2 above have been subject to allegations of cruelty, if any, how many resulted in prosecutions, how many were successful and how many establishments had to cease operating?

Answer

Unfortunately the detailed statistics requested cannot be compiled by 5th July 2005, due to the absence of the States Veterinary Officer (SVO) from the Island on annual leave. These figures will be made available during the following week.

Question 4

Would the President inform members of the actual fees that will be imposed for licences for the following -

(a )  ca t te r ies;

(b ) k en n e ls; and, (c ) g ro o m ers?

Answer

Fee levels have not yet been determined by the Committee. The intention would be to recover the cost of administering and inspecting the licensing system with the charge being apportioned between the licensed premises.

Question 5

In P.126/2003 Amd.Com.(2), the Economic Development Committee stated that the new Law was intended to focus on those areas where there had been complaints made by members of the public where issues of animal cruelty arose. It could not see any benefit in including business sectors where there is no evidence of a problem with animal welfare. Livery stables and riding schools are a good example where animal practice is satisfactory and to include these businesses in the licensing scheme would incur additional bureaucracy and cost for business and produce no benefit'. Would the President inform members of the number of livery stables and the number of riding schools operating in Jersey, how many of these establishments have been subjected to allegations of cruelty, if any, how many prosecutions followed, how many were successful and how many had to cease operating?

Answer

Unfortunately the detailed statistics requested cannot be compiled by 5th July 2005, due to the absence of the States Veterinary Officer (SVO) from the Island on annual leave. These figures will be made available during the following week

Question 6

In P.126/2003 it is stated that There are no immediate financial or manpower implications arising from the adoption of the draft Law by the States, by phasing licensing of establishments over a maximum of 24 months the required manpower can be met from the existing resources and any costs associated with the introduction of a licensing scheme will be recovered from licence fees.' Would the President inform members whether the resources referred to by the Committee, which it claimed to have at its disposal in April 2004, are still available, and if not, the reasons why?

Answer

The resources referred to in P.126/2003 were the SVO, an assistant and the resources of the JSPCA. The SVO and his assistant were transferred to the Environment and Public Services Committee during 2004 and remain available. However the resources of the JSPCA have been rendered unusable by Deputy Hill's amendment to the Animal Welfare (Jersey) Law 2004.

Question 7

If it was known that there would be financial and manpower implications, why were the resources referred to in question 6 above not transferred to the Environment and Public Services Committee, particularly if that Committee does not have any suitably qualified or experienced staff to carry out general investigations?

Answer

As per the answer to question 6, the relevant resources were transferred; however, it was always been assumed that the resources of States Departments would be supported by those of the JSPCA.

Question 8

Will the Committee review the need to retain Article 3 of the Animal Welfare (Jersey) Law in the light of evidence concerning any instances of cruelty being carried out by groomers, or in kennels or catteries due to be licensed, in view of the manpower and financial implications required to implement the Article?

Answer

The Committee responsible for the administration of the Law is the Economic Development Committee until such time as the law is transferred to the Environment and Public Services Committee. The Economic Development Committee is of the view that Article 3 is a core component of the Law and must be retained; this view is shared by the Environment and Public Services Committee. The level of inspection possible has been constrained by Deputy Hill's amendment to the Law which is regrettable. Accordingly, the Economic Development Committee is seeking to amend the Law to restore the ability of the JSPCA to contribute to the inspection regime. The Environment and Public Services Committee will take account of available resources in drafting the relevant subordinate legislation that will be required to give effect to this part of the Law.

Question 9

In connection with the Animal Welfare (Jersey) Law 200-, will the President inform members whether the Welfare Codes referred to in Part 5 of that Law have been submitted to the Animal Welfare Advisory Panel for consideration and approval, and, if so, when a response was received, when the Codes were approved and whether they are available to the general public?

Answer

The Animal Welfare Panel contributed extensively to the creation of the draft Welfare Codes. The draft codes were made publicly available in November 2003 and remain available on the Economic Development Department website. The Committee will consider all comments before finalising the Welfare Codes which will be done prior to the implementation of the Law