Animal Rescue with Marion Garnett
Dedicated animal expert Marion Garnett, founder of the Ealing Animal Charities Fair, continues her column
Remember, remember the fifth of November – once the fireworks start, how can we forget. It’s nearly firework night, when we remember Guy Fawkes trying to blow up the Houses of Parliament.
And, although, we don’t want to see Parliament blown up, there are many cruel practices involving animals which many of us wouldn’t mind going up in smoke.
But if we want to change the way animals can legally be treated, it’s to parliament we have to turn. And, as there are so many ways in which animal welfare could be improved, it’s not surprising there’s a queue of topics for parliament to discuss.
These range from wanting a law banning landlords from including a “No Pets Allowed” clause in tenancy agreements so it’s illegal to be refused accommodation because you have a pet to wanting a law to ensure that veterinary professionals check an animal’s microchip at their first consultation. This would reduce the likelihood of a stolen animal not being identified.
Only yesterday, there was a debate in the House of Commons on pet theft. We’ve mentioned this topic a couple of times recently and that’s because Covid isn’t the only thing spreading during this pandemic. There has also been a surge in pet theft as gangs take advantage of the demand for pets during lockdown.
Part of the problem is that there is no mention of pets in the Theft Act so, in the eyes of the law, animals are just possessions like, for example, a television. But most pet owners know this is not the case. People can suffer for decades after a pet theft especially if the animal isn’t found. As a result of yesterday’s debate, the Ministry of Justice is looking at sentencing guidelines so, hopefully, penalties for pet theft will become harsher.
Also in the parliamentary pipeline, is a petition seeking to limit the use of fireworks. Animals would, no doubt, sign up for this.
As firework season approaches, do remember to look after your pets. Keep your cat or dog indoors at times when fireworks are likely to go off. Draw the curtains to minimise the lights from fireworks.
Keep the radio on, to reduce firework noise. And, don’t forget about smaller animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs. Hutches/enclosures should, if possible, be brought into a quiet room indoors or into a shed. Give them extra bedding to burrow into, to help them feel safe. For more ways to help our pets at this time, see bluecross.org.uk.