Conditions to be adhered to by animal welfare organisations in receipt of DAFM exgratia funding 2014-2015
1. This document sets out conditions to be adhered to by animal welfare organisations in
receipt of ex-gratia funding to enable them achieve high standards of animal care and
welfare.
2. The Five Freedoms outlined below provide an overall concept of animal welfare and
should underpin animal welfare best practice at your organisation:
Freedom from thirst, hunger and malnutrition
Freedom from discomfort
Freedom from pain, injury and disease
Freedom to express normal patterns of behaviour
Freedom from fear and distress
3. Welfare organisations should familiarise themselves with the relevant guideline
booklets issued by the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council (FAWAC). A list of
Booklets are attached in Annex 1 and are available for download from the FAWAC
website www.fawac.ie
4. Increased numbers of abandoned animals and reduced re-homing options has resulted
in overcrowding being experienced in some animal welfare organisations. It is
essential therefore that all welfare organisations in receipt of public funds review their
operations and ensure funding is used effectively. This will involve decisions on, for
example, whether providing long term accommodation (life-long) for some animals is
the best option – such a strategy may preclude rescue of other more needy neglected
animals.
5. Welfare organisations who have been alerted to incidences of animal cruelty should in
the first instance report the matter to An Gardai Siochana.
6. All welfare organisations in receipt of public funding should ensure that the general
public in their catchment areas are aware of their existence. This could be done by
notifying local newspapers and/or local radio. Organisations should outline clearly the
service they provide to the public and have a contact number displayed to enable
members of the general public access them. In so far as is practicable you should
endeavour to have a day time or indeed a 24 hour helpline service in which members
of the public may call to report suspected cases of animal (non-farm animal) cruelty.
7. Welfare organisations should always have appropriate facilities for rescued animals
and the necessary expertise to manage them, particularly in relation to exotic animals
and feral cats. They should also ensure they have transport to enable them to respond
to calls for assistance.
8. All recipients of funding involved in the re-homing of dogs and cats must demonstrate
that they are participating in a neutering programme in order to assist in controlling
numbers of animals and avoid further cases of animal distress. Organisations not
participating in such programmes should notify Clare Hosford email
Clare.Hosford@agriculture.gov.ie in the Animal Health and Welfare Division in the
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).
9. In the case of feral cats DAFM is now requiring that all organisations rescuing feral
cats, introduce a programme of Trap, Neuter and Return programme whereby they
neuter/spay cats, with the long term view of controlling their numbers.
10. Welfare organisations rescuing and re-homing horses (equines) should familiarise
themselves with the following specific equine related legislation.
11. S.I. No. 113 of 2014 Control on Places Where Horses are Kept regulations which
requires any person who keeps or sells a horse to register the premises where the
horse is kept. Welfare bodies should ensure that persons ‘fostering’ equines from the
animal welfare organisation are also in compliance with the Equine Premises
Registration requirements. No equine to be re-homed/fostered to any person who is
not in possession of an equine premises registration number. Detailed records of
individuals re-homing or fostering equines should also be maintained.
12. S.I. No. 189 of 2014 Equidae (Transfer of Ownership) Regulations 2014 which
requires notification of ownership. Persons acquiring ownership of horses are legally
obliged to notify the relevant PIO (organisation which issued the passport) of their
new ownership and must submit the passport to the PIO so that the new ownership
can be recorded on the passport and on the central equine database.
13. S.I. No. 207 of 2014 European Union (Identification of Equidae) Regulations 2014
which consolidates existing legislation in the area of equine identification and
strengthens the powers available to authorised officers for all matters in relation to
equine ID.
14. While every effort should be made towards re-homing, it is not always possible to
re-home all equines because of the substantial numbers involved and the cost of
keeping equines, including stabling facilities, veterinary expenses, feed and farriery
fees. All welfare organisations involved with equines must therefore adhere to the
FAWAC advice for situations where an equine no longer fulfils the purpose for which
it was bred and where the horse cannot be rehomed to another responsible owner
which includes consideration of the option of humane disposal as such action will
help prevent the emergence of long-term animal welfare problems. All organisation
must ensure that equines being rehomed are passported in accordance with the
legislation and no equine must be rehomed without being microchipped and
passported. No entire males are to be rehomed and persons rehoming mares from
welfare bodies must sign a declaration that the mare will not be put in foal.
15. Organisations must maintain detailed records of all animals (including horses
and farmed animals) rescued, re-homed and euthanized.
16. All organisations must comply with the Control of Dogs Act, 1986 and be familiar
with its provisions. In particular Sections 13(1) and (3) should be noted for attention:
Section 13(1) of the Act states “any person, other than a dog warden or a member of
the Garda Siochana, who finds and takes possession of a stray dog shall, forthwith (a)
return the dog to its owner or (b) deliver the dog to a dog warden, or (c) detain the dog
and give notice in writing containing a description of the dog, the address of the place
where it was found, and the address of the place where it is detained to the member in
charge at the nearest Garda Station to the place where the dog was found, or to a dog
warden".
Section 13(3) states "where a person has found a stray dog and has retained
possession of the dog for a year after the date on which he gave the notice referred to
in subsection (1) of this section, and the dog has not been claimed by its owner within
that year, such person shall become the owner of the dog and the title of the former
owner to the dog shall be extinguished”. Any queries in relation to the Control of
Dogs Act should be addressed to the Local Authority in your area.
17. All organisations must comply with the Dog Breeding Establishments Act, 2010, and
must be familiar with its provisions particularly regarding definition of ‘dog breeding
establishments’ which means a premises at which bitches are kept, not less than 6 of
which are (a) more than 6 months old, and (b) capable of being used for breeding
purposes, but shall not include a local authority dog pound: (Note Rescue centres and
Charities are included in this legislation). Section 9 (2) of Act states that where a
person proposes to operate a dog breeding establishment, he or she shall, in
accordance with this section, apply to the local authority in whose functional area the
premises at which it is proposed to operate the dog breeding establishment is situated
to have the premises registered in the register maintained by that local authority.
18. All welfare organisations keeping dogs must have a licence for that dog or a general
dog licence in respect of the location where that dog is kept. When transferring
ownership of a dog, organisations should advise the individual taking ownership of
the requirement to obtain a dog licence.
19. Animals which were lost or stray, especially dogs, should be scanned to determine if
the dog is micro-chipped. If micro-chipped, the chip number should be used to
reunite the dog with its owner. From 2016 new regulations will come into force that
will make it mandatory for all dogs to be micro-chipped. In advance of these
regulations it is nevertheless recommended that dogs be micro-chipped and registered
on a suitable database. Or as a minimum that where dogs are re-homed the new
owners are advised of the importance of micro-chipping as a way to quickly reunite
lost dogs with their owners.
20. Organisations involved in the transport of dogs or cats on long journeys (e.g. from
Ireland to GB) should pay particular attention to the “Guidelines for the welfare of
non-farming (“other”) species during commercial transport” which are available
on the DAFM website. Those organisations involved in the re-homing of dogs to
another EU member state, including the UK must ensure that dogs have an EU Pet
Passport obtainable from your Private Veterinary Practitioner (PVP) showing –
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Microchip identification and
Valid rabies vaccination - with effect from 29 December 2014, when EU
Regulation 576/2013 comes into operation, dogs must be a minimum of 12 weeks
old before a rabies vaccine can be administered. The immunity takes effect 21
days after vaccination, which means that, in fact, pups must be a minimum of 15
weeks of age before they are eligible to travel between Member States of the EU.
21. Transporters must have a Type 2 Transporter Authorisation Certificate from the
DAFM. Transporters must comply with the Guidelines on Animal Welfare during
Transport. A PVP must complete and certify (in passport) clinical examination of
animals within 24 hours of travel to ensure they are healthy and fit for journey. A
health (‘Balai’) certificate must be issued by DAFM within 24 hours of scheduled
departure time – available from your local Regional Veterinary Office.
22. All welfare organisations who are involved directly or indirectly in the transport of
animals should be familiar with the relevant legislation and the relevant DAFM
guidelines covering this area. Details are available on the DAFM website at:
http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/animaltransport/
23. Welfare Organisations must if requested allow DAFM officials access premises and
inspect animals present and/ or records.
24. Welfare organisations should have a procedure manual in place for their organisation,
the manual in particular should cover:
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Arrangements regarding veterinary care, and what situations would call for
involvement of a vet, etc
Medicine control and use – details of how medicines are controlled, detailed
record keeping system, procedures for dealing with left over medicines
Procedures on how to deal with (i) disposal of live animals and (ii) animals that
die while in the organisation’s care.
25. In relation to usage of veterinary medicines, all medicines should be used only on the
advice of a registered veterinary practitioner. In relation to prescription only
medicines (POMs), these may only be used on foot of a prescription issued by a
registered veterinary practitioner who has been consulted and made a diagnosis that
this medication is required by the animal. Copies of prescriptions must be retained by
the welfare body for a minimum period of five years. Records in relation to medicines
administered to animals during their stay at welfare organisations do not have to be
recorded in relation to companion animals such as dogs and cats. Prescriptions for all
veterinary medicines prescribed and administered to any equine on the premises,
regardless of status in relation to entering the food chain, must be kept and available
for inspection. Possession of a veterinary practitioner only (VPO) medicine that has
been authorised for the purpose of euthanasia is strictly controlled under national
legislation. It is a breach of Regulation 38 of the European Communities (Animal
Remedies) Regulations 2007 to have such a VPO medicine at a welfare organisation’s
premises.
26. Welfare Organisations should be aware that information supplied to the DAFM in
association with the application procedure may be disclosed in response to a request
under the Freedom of Information Act 1997 in accordance with the conditions of the
Act. Details of payments will also be publicised
27. Where farm animals or equines are to be humanely destroyed, the person engaged in
the activity must be able to demonstrate competence in the activity. Welfare
organisations should familiarise themselves with the provisions of the European
Union (Animal By-products Regulations) 2014 (SI 187/2014) regarding the
derogations in relation to the disposal of dead pet animals and equidae.
28. All welfare organisations who rescue farm animals should ensure that they have a
herd number relating to their premises – contact local offices of DAFM for
information on herd numbers.
29. All welfare organisations should be aware of the FAWAC recommendations which
state that dogs with a history of attacking and killing sheep must be euthanized and
not be re-homed.
30. All welfare organisations should familiarise themselves with the following:
Control of Dogs Act 1986, as amended and all subsequent Regulations
The Pounds and Provisions Act 1985, as amended
The Control of Horses Act 1996 and Regulations 1997
The Animals Act 1985
Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010
The Animal Health & Welfare Act 2013
Annex 1
Animal Welfare Guidelines / Codes of Practice
Animal Welfare Guidelines for Horses at Gatherings and Sales 2014
Code of Practice for the Welfare of Laying Hens 2011
Animal Welfare Guidelines for Managing Acutely Injured Livestock on Farm 2009
Code of Practice for the Welfare of Pigs 2009
Code of Practice for the Welfare of Broiler Chickens 2008
Revised Animal Welfare Guidelines for Beef Farmers 2008
Best Practice for the welfare of Animals during Transport 2007
Animal Welfare Guidelines for Horses, Ponies and Donkeys 2005
Animal Welfare Guidelines for Beef, Sheep and Dairy Farmers 2003
Animal Welfare Guidelines for Beef Farmers 2003
Animal Welfare Guidelines for Sheep Farmers 2003
Animal Welfare Guidelines for Dairy Farmers 2003
END
I have read and agreed the conditions attached for a recipient of ex gratia funding
Name of Welfare organisation: ________________________________
Position in organisation: ______________________________________
Print Name: ________________________________________________
Signed: ____________________________________________________
Date: ______________________________________________________
This page should be returned by 31st January 2015 to:
Ms Clare Hosford
Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine
Animal Health & Welfare Division
4C Agriculture House
Kildare Street
Dublin 2