Response 124105058

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Questions

1. The Scottish Government proposes that animal sanctuaries and rehoming centres should be regulated. Do you agree?

Please select one item
Yes
No

2. Do you agree with the principle that registration is appropriate for those with fewer animals and that licensing is appropriate for those with more animals?

Please select one item
Yes
No
Please explain your answer.
It makes no difference to the animals, who should receive the maximum protection.

3. Do you have any comments on the thresholds that should apply? Should these be different for separate species?

No.

4. Larger organisations and charities that may have a network of homes and smaller branches in different local authority areas should be able to apply centrally for the relevant licensing. Do you agree?

Please select one item
Yes
No
Please explain your answer.
We can’t have people policing themselves.

5. The Scottish Government believes that all premises must be inspected before licensing (but not registration). We propose that, as well as local authorities, expert independent bodies, such as Scottish SPCA, should be able to carry out inspections. Do you agree?

Please select one item
Yes
No
Please give reasons for your answer.
It needs and independent government agency, with teeth.

6. Do you agree that individuals with unspent convictions for animal welfare offences or other criminal convictions (e.g. fraud) should not be allowed to register or hold a licence for an animal sanctuary or rehoming activity?

Please select one item
Yes
No

7. Are there other requirements, apart from criminal, that should be part of a ‘fit and proper person’ test for those running animal sanctuaries or rehoming activities?

Tests of knowledge, competence, experience, proof of funding capability.

8. The Scottish Government proposes that reasonable costs of inspections should be charged to recover costs to inspectors approved by Scottish Ministers or local authorities. Do you agree with that proposal?

Please select one item
Yes
No
Please explain your answer.
See 5 above.

9. Should licence fees be set by the authorised inspectors, local authorities or by the Scottish Government? Do you have any comments on what cost is reasonable and what should be included in this?

See 5 above.

10. The Scottish Government considers that licences lasting more or less than one year may be issued on the basis of a welfare risk assessment. Do you agree?

Please explain your answer.
‘lasting more or less than one year’? That’s all licences?

11. Do you consider that the relevant Local Authority should have a duty to enforce the regulations on animal sanctuaries and rehoming activities in Scotland?

Please select one item
Yes
No
Please explain your answer.
Also see 5 above.

12. Do you consider that the Scottish SPCA should be able to act on behalf of the relevant Local Authority using the powers contained in Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 to enforce proposed regulations on animal sanctuaries and rehoming activities in Scotland?

Please select one item
Yes
No
Please explain your answer.
But also see 5 above.

13. Do you think that a national list of licensed premises and activities should be kept?

Please select one item
Yes
No

14. Do you have any comments on who should be able to access information from the list, and if a charge should be made for information?

Please select one item
Yes
No
Please explain your answer.
Information should be available to all, unless very good reasons otherwise, e.g. threat from animal abusers.

15. The Scottish Government believes that enforcement agencies should be able to suspend, vary or revoke registrations and licences or issue improvement notices for minor irregularities. Do you agree with this proposal?

Please select one item
Yes
No

16. The Scottish Government proposes to adopt welfare standards based on those published by the Association of Dog and Cat Homes that all licensed animal sanctuaries and rehoming organisations should follow for the species they hold. Do you agree that this should be a condition of licensing?

If you are aware of any other relevant standards please comment.
I’m not au fait with these, but surely the knowledge required must extend far beyond that about cats and dogs.

17. Do you agree that appropriate fixed penalties should apply for minor non-compliance with the legislation?

Please select one item
Yes
No

About the consultation

1. Are there any other measures you consider should be included in legislation for animal sanctuaries and rehoming activities in Scotland?

Please select one item
Yes
No
Please explain your answer.
OneKind and Animal Concern should also be consulted.

2. Do you consider that that consultation explained the key issues sufficiently to properly consider your responses?

Please select one item
Yes
No

3. Do you consider that you had sufficient time to respond to the consultation?

Please select one item
Yes
No

About you

Are you responding as an individual or an organisation?

Please select one item
(Required)
Individual
Organisation