The UK animal welfare bill just passed in the house of commons! But what does this mean? Read more, to find out.
The Animal Welfare Act 2006 of the United Kingdom is the first signing of pet law since 1911. It regulates the behaviour of pet owners, keeping in mind the welfare of domesticated animals. It protects animals from harm, implements pet owner codes of practices and lists duties that pet owners have towards their animals. If breached, the owners can face an extremely harsh conviction. More recently, on March 13th 2021 (2 days ago), the House of Commons passed a new bill, which increased the maximum penalty for certain offenses under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 from 6 months to up to 5 years.
At face value, this may seem like fantastic news, however it is important to note that the Animal Welfare Act 2006 is only legally enforceable on "protected animals" which the act defines as "it is of a kind which is commonly domesticated in the British Islands" or "it is under the control of man whether on a permanent or temporary basis" or "it is not living in a wild state".
This is not all good news. As stated by Deborah Jones, general secretary of Catholic Concern for Animals, "The bill doesn't include farm animals, laboratory animal welfare and animals used for horse or greyhound racing." 77 billion animals are farmed for food each year. These are not protected. The number of farm animals produced each year is estimated to double by 2050. They are not protected. Over 200 race horses die each year due to race related injuries. They are not protected. So, before celebrating the increase in punishment for offenses committed on pets, it is important to celebrate cautiously, for the lives of billions others are at stake.
While it may seem like a step in the right direction for pets, the amendments to the bill on 13th March has only further exacerbated the divide between pets and the rest of the animal population. It highlights the special place even government officials hold for certain species, showcasing our speciesism in mainstream politics.
The British Government needs to acknowledge their hypocrisy and be held accountable for it. Speak up about this because it is our responsibility to highlight these injustices. As Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "our lives end the day we become silent about things that matter".
All animal lives matter, so raise your voice for the voiceless.