European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals

international | animal rights | press release Friday December 01, 2006 05:51 by Jupiter - ANVILIRELAND.IE

'Agriculture Minister washes her hands of responsibility for domestic animals'

Responsibility for domestic pet animals does not lie within the sphere of responsibility of any Government department. Senator Jim Higgins raised the issue with the Minister for Agricultue and Food, Deputy Mary Coughlan at the request of Anvil Ireland. In her letter to Senator Higgins Minister Coughlan states " The position as regards my Department is that its statutory responsibility relates only to the welfare and protection of farmed animals and does not extend to animals kept as pets. I understand that the matter of ratification of the European Convention for the Protection of Pets and the responsibility of Departments is under consideration".

I have tabled a question to the European Commission pointing out that as of now no Irish Government Department has responsibility for pets and urging the Commission to insist that responsibility he assigned to a particular Department without further delay.

In a reaction Senator Higgins said " In view of the fact that Minister Coughlan has responsibility for the welfare of farmed animals it is quite obviuos that her Department is the appropriate supervisory Department for the welfare of domestic animals. What is obvious is that she is reluctant to do so and is dragging her heels in relation to Ireland's responsibilities under the European Convention for the Protection of Pets.

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Chapter III; Supplementary measures for stray animals

Article 12; Reduction of numbers

When a Party considers that the numbers of stray animals present it with a problem, it shall take the appropriate legislative and/or administrative measures necessary to reduce their numbers in a way which does not cause avoidable pain, suffering or distress.

Parties undertake to consider:
providing for dogs and cats to be permanently identified by some appropriate means which causes little or no enduring pain, suffering or distress, such as tattooing as well as recording the numbers in a register together with the names and addresses of their owners;
reducing the unplanned breeding of dogs and cats by promoting the neutering of these animals;
encouraging the finder of a stray dog or cat to report it to the competent authority.
Article 13 – Exceptions for capture, keeping and killing

Exceptions to the principles laid down in this Convention for the capture, the keeping and the killing of stray animals may be made only if unavoidable in the framework of national disease control programmes.

Links to Posters:
ANVIL Cats
http://eionews.addr.com/images/neem/anvilcats.jpg

ANVIL Dogs
http://eionews.addr.com/images/neem/anvildogs.jpg

Links to articles:
http://www.anvilireland.ie/fulcrum.html?ep=54

Irish 'Pets' in Limbo! Irish government washes its' hands of responsibility for 'pet' animals.
http://www.anvilireland.ie/fulcrum.html?ep=59

The European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals, 1987
http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/en/Treaties/Html/125.htm

The European Convention for Pet Animals is in existence since 1987. Since then Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finalnd, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland have signed and ratified this convention.

France, Italy, Netherlands and Turkey have signed but not ratifed, Ireland have done neither??? We have contacted the Irish MEPs on this matter, and apparently we haven't signed bacause according to Minister Coughlan, "the matter of ratification of the European Convention for the Protection of Pets and the responsibility of Departments is under consideration".

It seems like a long time to be considering something, almost 20 years! it could also be that the lack of ministerial responsiblility for out pets has been somewhat of a secret and so the relevant questions haven't been asked.

While the Convention itself will not make it compulsory for governments to implement the suggestions and recemmendations contained therein; signing would show a willingness or at the very least an interest, in the treatment and welfare of companion animals on the part of the government.

The fact that Ireland has not signed and our public representatives don't even know who is responsible for signing, speaks volumes. Help us to give our animals a voice in Europe, contact you local MEP and ask that something be done about this scandalous situation.
http://www.anvilireland.ie/fulcrum.html?ep=60