Residents' Petition Demands Action on Animal Welfare

1.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 23rd Jan 2006

Hundreds of residents have signed a petition to Vincent Cable MP urging support for the Animal Welfare Bill which received its second reading in Parliament on Tuesday. Vincent Cable was in the Chamber to support his spokesman in backing the Bill.

Vincent Cable said: "There is strong public feeling amongst pet owners and others that there are insufficient safeguards at present to protect animals from cruelty and neglect. Although most publicity has focused on cruel sports, around the hunting debate, the main source of cruelty lies in inhumane factory farming or in simple neglect once pet owners have lost interest or are preoccupied. The RSPCA currently finds it difficult to bring legal action quickly and the legislation will provide greater powers which I welcome."