Ensuring robust animal welfare laws post-Brexit

Wild Welfare is asking supporters to act for animals as the UK prepares to leave the European Union.

We are one of 36 of the UK’s leading animal protection groups supporting the Brexit Manifesto for Animals, which makes recommendations for improving animal welfare post-Brexit and includes references to captive zoo animal welfare.

We are encouraging our UK supporters to join us in taking action and asking their MPs to show love for animals and ensure that full legal consideration is given to animal welfare when the UK leaves the European Union (EU).

Wild Welfare’s director, Georgina Groves, said: “While standards of care and welfare for zoo animals in the UK are some of the highest in the world, we want to ensure we remain leaders in the industry, particularly as other countries often want to emulate and learn from UK zoo practices.”

The 36 organisations that make up the coalition¹ were brought together by the UK Centre for Animal Law (A-Law) and Wildlife and Countryside Link (LINK)² and as a group we are working hard to ensure that animal sentience is recognised in animal welfare legislation after the UK leaves the EU.

“The importance of recognising animals as sentient beings cannot be overlooked, so it’s essential that UK law makers ensure that sentience and the welfare of animals retain proper legislative consideration post-Brexit,” Georgina Groves added.

Under the European Union Treaty, animals are recognised as sentient beings, whose welfare must be protected, but as the UK leaves the EU, UK animals will lose that existing legal protection unless a new animal welfare act ensures continued legislative safeguards.

The current animal welfare sentience bill which has been suggested falls short of adequate protection and as the UK leaves the EU there is concern that animals may lose vital legal protections.

Wild Welfare wants to ensure that robust legislation is put in place to recognise animal sentience, so is calling on supporters to join the coalition in being a voice for animals in the UK.

Here’s how you can get involved:

You can ask your MP to support a #BetterDealForAnimals and give the government a clear message that animals deserve the best legal protection.

• Sign the petition asking the UK Government to recognise animal sentience and give animal welfare full regard in law HERE
• Email Your MP and ask for their support HERE
• Tweet Your MP and ask for their support HERE
• Add a social media Twibbon to show support for #BetterDealForAnimals, download the Twibbon HERE

Wild Welfare is committed to ensuring that animals, including those in zoos and captive facilities across the UK, do not become victims of Brexit and that strong new welfare laws are put in place to ensure their continued protection.

#BetterDealForAnimals #LoveAnimals #AnimalWelfare #BetterBrexitForAnimals 

~ENDS~

Notes to Editors

1. 1. 1. The 36 organisations that make up the coalition include Wild Welfare, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Animal Aid, Animal Defenders International, Animal Equality United Kingdom, Animal Protection Agency, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Badger Trust, Born Free Foundation, Catholic Concern for Animals, Cats Protection, Change for Animals Foundation, Christian Vegetarian Association, Compassion in World Farming, Cruelty Free International, Crustacean Compassion, Dogs Trust, Four Paws, the Humane League, Humane Society International, International Animal Rescue, IFAW, League Against Cruel Sports, Mayhew, Naturewatch Foundation, OneKind, PDSA, PETA, Quaker Concern for Animals, RSPCA, The Donkey Sanctuary, Save Me Trust, Shellfish Network, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, Wildlife and Countryside Link, and World Animal Protection. ** Joined coalition in March 2019: Open Cages, PAAW House and Treat Me Kind International, bringing the total number of organisations to 39.
      2. More information on the work going on to ensure animal sentience is recognised in UK law is available via Wildlife and Countryside Link HERE.

For more information or interview requests please contact Wild Welfare on communications@wildwelfare.org

Wild Welfare is a global organisation committed to improving animal welfare for captive wild animals. By uniting the world’s leading zoos, zoo associations and animal welfare organisations, we build trusting partnerships that help provide long-term solutions to critical wild animal welfare issues.

Our vision is to end the suffering of captive wild animals around the world and ensure full and sustainable protection is given to all animals in human care. Find out more at www.wildwelfare.org. Registered charity in England (no.1165941).