This is clear to me from my post bag as Exeter�s MP.
But it�s even more apparent as Minister responsible for animal welfare.
At a local level I have received more letters from constituents about cruelty to animals than any other subject. As a Minister, charities like the RSPCA remind me regularly that their millions of members care deeply about how we treat our fellow creatures.
This is no bad thing. Although it would be wrong to elevate animal welfare above our concern for human beings, the two are not mutually exclusive. We should care about both. Indeed, how a society treats animals is often a sign of how civilised it is in others areas.
Over time the way we treat animals has improved. Animal baiting and fighting were outlawed years ago. Most of our wild animals and birds are protected. If pet owners or farmers mistreat their animals they can expect to be prosecuted. We will hopefully soon see an end to the hunting of wild mammals using hounds.
But most of our laws on animal cruelty date back nearly a hundred years and are a mish mash of piecemeal legislation and regulations. Some areas like circuses, pet fairs, puppy farms and unregistered greyhound tracks are in dire need of attention.
So I am very pleased that the Government has signalled its intention to pass the first major animal welfare act since 1911. A draft Bill is expected to be published soon.
Not only will it update a lot of our antiquated laws but will for the first time introduce a duty of care on all animal owners. That means that we won�t have to wait until an animal actually suffers cruelty before anything is done. If it is being kept or treated in a way which will result in cruelty the authorities will be able to intervene at that stage.
Good news for animals and for all those who care about them.
