Animal welfare
The Council does not directly investigate animal cruelty or welfare complaints but our Animal Welfare Team would be happy to discuss issues and point you in the right direction.
- Telephone: 01962 848097
- Email: EHealth@winchester.gov.uk
To report cases of animal cruelty to the RSPCA, telephone: 0300 1234 999
On this page
— Five Freedoms for Animals
— Dogs in hot cars
— Animals and fireworks
— Animal Welfare Act 2006
— Activities involving animals on Council-owned land
— Neutering
Five Freedoms for Animals
Winchester City Council supports the Five Freedoms for animals:
- Freedom from hunger and thirst
- Freedom from discomfort
- Freedom from pain, injury or disease
- Freedom to express normal behaviour and
- Freedom from fear or distress
The RSPCA look at this another way and have developed the Five Welfare Needs.
Dogs in hot cars
Some people think that it is illegal to leave a dog in a car. This is not the case but, if your dog is suffering as a result, that can be an offence.
This is most likely to happen when the weather is hot or sunny - your car acts like an oven and heats up very quickly, even if you leave windows open, and a dog can suffer heatstroke in as little as 5 or 10 minutes (leaving a water bowl in the car does not help).
The Kennel Club provide further information on their Dogs Die in Hot Cars page.
If you see a dog showing signs of heatstroke, by all means call us on 01962 848097.
Animals and fireworks
During the Firework Season, your domestic pets growing fearful or anxious with the unusual and erratic loud bangs and flashes.
It is best to keep dogs and cats in the house in the evenings at this time of year. There are measures that you can take to ease your pet’s distress and The RSPCA and The Blue Cross offer advice on how to recognise and ease it. Of course, horses and ponies can also be affected. The British Horse Society has a useful information on the steps you can take to minimise their stress.
Should your pet show extreme fear of fireworks, you should always consult your vet as there are products available that can help.
For further information, please contact the Animal Welfare team:
- Telephone: 01962 848097
- Email: EHealth@winchester.gov.uk
Animal Welfare Act 2006
Any person that is responsible for an animal has a legal duty to ensure they are meeting all of the needs of that animal as required by good practice. Different animals have different needs but all reasonable steps must be taken to provide the most basic, which include the need:
- for a suitable environment (place to live)
- for a suitable diet
- to exhibit normal behaviour patterns
- to be housed with, or apart from, other animals (if applicable)
- to be protected from pain, injury, suffering and disease
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has produced a range of guidance on what is considered good practice for the care of dogs, cats, and horses, ponies, donkeys and their hybrids.
Failing to provide for the needs of any animal or causing an animal unnecessary suffering is an offence and anyone found guilty of this offence may be banned from owning animals, face a large fine or imprisonment.
The Act also covers other offences, including tail docking and dog fighting.
The Animal Welfare Act 2006 can be read online.
Activities involving animals on Council-owned land
Winchester City Council will not allow any exhibition, performance or entertainment in which animals are or might be involved, or in which goldfish or any other animal are offered as prizes, to take place on Council-owned land.
Neutering
There is a large surplus of cats and dogs in the country so the Council asks that any dog or cat owner considers discussing the neutering of their pets with their vet.
Advice and infomation about neutering is available from various sources, including: