ANIMAL WELFARE ESTABLISHMENTS
The RSPCA believes Animal Welfare Establishments (AWEs) or what is commonly referred to as sanctuaries and rescues should be licenced.
Although animal welfare establishments such as sanctuaries, rescues and rehoming centres undertake hugely important work, the RSPCA has been required to prosecute a number of establishments in England where serious failings in animal welfare have arisen.
As it stands, anyone can set up an AWE regardless of whether they have the skills, experience and ongoing funds needed to care for animals. AWEs can be set up without the oversight of any inspection regime or any legal requirement for strong welfare standards and contingency plans to be put in place.
Ensuring that AWEs always have enough competent staff to care for the animals as needed can be a challenge - especially as many undertake their duties on a voluntary basis. Additionally, many AWEs are entirely funded by donations from well-meaning members of the public - the majority of whom are unaware that these establishments are currently unlicensed and unregulated.
Our asks for Government
The RSPCA believes that the Government should introduce licensing of all animal rescue/rehoming centres under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018.
The RSPCA has campaigned on this issue for many years; we believe regulating animal welfare establishments would drive up standards and allow for better enforcement.
The RSPCA also recommends that the Government should provide support to the rescue sector to help existing organisations raise their standards before any mandatory licensing is introduced.
We welcome the Government’s commitment in the animal welfare strategy to consult on the licensing of rescue and rehoming centres and would like to see this as soon as possible, with the scope expanded to include wildlife rescues.