European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals

Policy:  The UK should sign and ratify the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals.  The welfare legislation introduced in 2006 enables governments to easily introduce the necessary secondary legislation to allow the UK to be fully compliant. It is noted by PAC that wild animals may be kept as pets when the care they receive ensures that as far as practical and possible their welfare requirements are satisfied.

Background:  The Convention was agreed in 1985 by all countries across Europe (not just the EU).  The principles of it are those introduced by the new welfare legislation in 2006 although there is considerably more detail.  A Resolution agreed a decade after the Convention named specific breeds of dog and their relationship to inherited disease and this has been contentious.  However the Resolution cannot be changed to a more measured approach, using specific conditions instead of breeds, unless the UK signs the Convention.   As a leading animal welfare nation in Europe it is an anachronism that the UK has not signed the Convention.