CAMPAIGNERS yesterday welcomed the States’ decision to put in place an animal welfare law. The GSPCA, Animal Aid and pressure group Justice for Animals all welcomed the move, but said it was long overdue.

‘It’s about time, but better late than never,’ said Pamela Le Page, who founded Justice for Animals earlier in the year after being outraged by a cruelty case.

The group also criticised the length of time it had taken for the law, passed in 2003, to come back to the House.

‘We didn’t do much, but I hope it contributed towards them hurrying it up.

‘I hope that the people in authority will be able to go in somewhere and instead of leaving an animal they don’t think is being looked after, they can sort it out and not hang about.’

The enabling projet, which will be debated in the House at the end of the month, will allow for a separate piece of legislation to be put through as and when necessary. It will also put the focus on owners to ensure they care for their animals properly.

‘The law will place the duty on people who own animals to look after them and if they fail, there’s an opportunity to intervene,’ said a spokesman for Commerce and Employment.

‘At the moment, an owner has to be proven to have been cruel. In future, a prosecution can be made if five freedoms, like feeding and providing for the animal in a proper manner, are not met.’

GSPCA director Jayne Le Cras thought the law was overdue.

‘I am delighted, but it’s taken so long to get here. All we want is for it to be in as soon as possible,’ she said.

Animal Aid founder Sue Vidamour hoped that the new law would stop people being able to evade punishment.

‘We mustn’t grumble, because it’s started, but there’s still a long way to go.

‘My worry is that there’s a law against drink-driving but you still get people who drink-drive.

‘We need someone, a determined officer, or someone to make sure the law is obeyed.

‘Vets have cases where it’s obvious there’s cruelty and someone’s got a lawyer who’s got them off. A vet’s word should be taken as fact.’

There are other aspects to the legislation which can be brought to the House as separate ordinances if deemed necessary. They include the regulation of vets and other professions that deal with animals such as farriers and slaughtermen, licensing of pet shops and rules for keeping dangerous animals.