Animal Welfare

Description

 

Investigation (and enforcement) of complaints relating to the health and welfare of animals. Inspections and checks of farms, transport and vehicles (cleansing and disinfecting).

There is a wide range of legislation in the UK designed to protect the health and welfare of both domesticated and wild animals.

Animal health and welfare legislation is enforced jointly by the Local Authority and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), in association with other government bodies and independent organisations like the RSPCA (see associated links for DEFRA and RSPCA).

 

Eligibility

 

Any member of the public, or business in Barnsley can make a complaint or enquiry about animal health and welfare

 

Procedure

 

What the Local Authority do:

We enforce Animal Health and Welfare controls to:

• Prevent, eradicate and control animal and poultry diseases
• Prepare and maintain emergency contingency arrangements
• Protect the welfare of livestock and poultry, wherever situated
• Safeguard human health
• Implement the National Animal Health and Welfare Strategy

As the statutory animal health and welfare authority for Barnsley, our activities include inspections at farm holdings, attendance at livestock markets, slaughterhouses, all other premises handling live animals and checks during transport.

We provide advice and guidance to the agricultural community to help compliance and ease the burden of newly generated legislation, particularly that emanating from Foot and Mouth and BSE.

Animal Health and Welfare subjects covered include:

• Animal Transport
• Animal Transport Journey Times
• Requirements for cattle identification
• Sheep and Goats Identification
• Guidance on the disposal of farm animal carcasses (animal by-products)
• Horse Passports

We also administer and enforce arrangements for the licensing of:

• Horse Riding Establishments
• Dog Breeding Establishments
• Animal Boarding Establishments
• Dangerous Wild Animals
• Animal Movements

What Defra do:

• National Animal Health and Welfare Strategy
• Animal Welfare at Farms, Markets, Slaughterhouses
• The Pet Travel Scheme
• International Trade in Animals
• Animal Diseases - Control and Surveillance, BSE, Tuberculosis, Scrapie, Foot and Mouth Disease
• Animal by-products
• Wildlife Conservation and Biodiversity
• Wildlife Crime

 

Helplines

 

Animal Health: (01226) 772532

Defra Helpline: 08459 33 55 77

RSPCA: 08705 555999

 

Opening Times/Locations

 

Opening times and location map, click link for further information.

 

How the customer can help

 

Your request for information or complaint should include the following information:

• Your full name, address and contact details
• Name and address of business/premise concerned if different from above
• As much relevant detail about the enquiry or complaint as possible, for example,
  • Dates
  • Times
  • Descriptions
  • Sequence of events
• Any action taken by you, or contact made with the business or premise concerned
• Any information you have already managed to obtain

 

Leaflets

 

Defra have a set of leaflets

 

Distribution Points

 

Leaflets are available from the Defra website (see Related Links)

 

Legislation

 

• Protection of Animals Act 1911
• Animal By Products Regs 2003
• Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997

(see the Defra website for a full list)

 

Response Times/Next Steps

 

An initial response will be provided within 5 working days

 

Owner Officer Contact Details

 

Animal Health Officer
3rd Floor,
Central Offices,
Kendray Street,
Barnsley,
S70 2TN.

Telephone Number:- 01226 772532/ 773860

You can also complete our online form to request a service or report a problem on  Animal Health/Welfare

 

Related Links:

 

• Defra
• RSPCA

Last modified on 16/9/2008