Council adopts new Animal Welfare Policy

At a Cabinet meeting on 26 June 2024, senior councillors of Horsham District Council agreed to approve a new Animal Welfare Policy as a result of its continued commitment to improve the health, safety and wellbeing of animals across Horsham District.

The Council has a range of responsibilities for the welfare of animals that fall to different service areas within the authority, as a regulator, landowner, events organiser and as a housing provider.

The Animal Welfare Policy was developed to highlight these responsibilities and the wide range of work undertaken for animals in different capacities within the District. These are also aligned with the five basic animal freedoms and the RSPCA's 'five missions for animal welfare'.

For more details about the RSPCA's Animal Welfare Act please visit the RSPCA website.

The adoption of the new Policy also supports the RSPCA's 'Pets as Prizes' campaign, which urges local authorities to ban outright the giving of live animals as prizes on their land, something that Horsham District Council has not permitted for some time.

Commenting on the new Policy Horsham District Council Cabinet Member for Environmental Health, Recycling and Waste Cllr Jay Mercer said: "I really welcome the renewed focus on this important policy.

The adoption of this policy is a positive statement of the continued commitment we have as a council to the wellbeing of all animals.

"It builds upon the excellent work already done and sets a framework for how we will support our District to become kinder to animals in the future."