CAMPAIGNING AGAINST CRUELTY
Following on from its 2018 launch, our
campaign to increase sentences for animal
cruelty remained a top priority. Throughout
2019, 9,000 new supporters signed up to
the campaign and our Public Affairs team
continued to push the change in law among
members of Parliament.
A campaign was launched to encourage
Battersea supporters to join our campaign.
They sent 5,386 emails to the Government
calling for the Animal Welfare (Sentencing)
Bill to remain a priority. Of these, 38% were
from new supporters and 62% were from
previous supporters.
The Draft Bill was well on its way to a third
reading in September. Unfortunately, the Bill
became collateral damage when Parliament
was prorogued ahead of the General Election.
However, there is universal political
support for the speedy reintroduction of
the Bill and Battersea will continue to push
for progress.
In Scotland, where a Bill for five-year
sentences had been consulted on and
published, Battersea held an exhibition
over three days in September solidly
campaigning for political support for
five-year sentences. Sixty-one MSPs,
including the leaders of three parties,
signed Battersea’s pledge board and
the Bill subsequently began its passage
through Parliament.
CASE STUDY - BRYN'S REMARKABLE RECOVERY
Bryn's remarkable recovery
Staff at Battersea’s Old Windsor centre were
shocked when they took in Bryn, who had
been discarded on a busy road in Slough.
When he was found, the six-week-old was
malnourished with a visibly protruding spine
and was covered in fleas and lice, as well
as suffering from cat flu. A member of the
public discovered the tiny kitten by chance
and took him to a nearby veterinary clinic,
where he received medical treatment and
had most of his fur shaved off before being
taken to Battersea’s centre to continue
his recovery.
Fortunately, Bryn was rescued before it was
too late. After weeks of loving care with one
of Battersea’s foster carers and lots of naps
with his favourite toy, a cuddly seal twice
his size, Bryn had transformed into a lively,
affectionate kitten and was ready to go to
a new home with a family in Kent.
Under current laws, the harshest
punishment the person who caused harm to
such a young animal would face is still only
six months in jail, and most cases of alleged
animal cruelty still don’t even result in
imprisonment. Animals like Bryn don’t have
a voice, so Battersea will always be there
to speak up for them.
Strict ‘no pets’ policies are
common in private rentals, and
research carried out by Battersea
in 2018 revealed that 21% of
London Councils and 64% of
the capital’s largest Housing
Associations ban owning dogs in
flats with no direct garden or
street access.
To combat this, we launched our
Pet Friendly Properties campaign
and, in February 2019, The London
Assembly voted in support of our
goals, specifically the potential for
tenants being able to enjoy greater
access to pet ownership through
more widespread pet-friendly
tenancy agreements.
We raised the issue of improving
access to pet ownership in
Parliament throughout the
year, and our discussion
of the campaign with MPs
played a significant role in the
Government’s plan to amend its
own central tenancy agreement to
encourage pet ownership, which
will come to fruition later in 2020.
The 2019 General Election
provided an opportunity to
communicate with politicians
and the public to produce the
Battersea Manifesto, highlighting
12 of the key issues likely to
come before the new Parliament.
The Manifesto was also used as
an engagement tool with potential
supporters, who were encouraged
to vote on which three of the
priorities they considered to be
the most important.
More than 2,700 people
completed the poll and this data
has been spilt regionally, so we
can effectively lobby prospective
MPs in each constituency
specifically on the issues that
matter most to their constituents.
RAISING STANDARDS IN DOG AND CAT WELFARE
Battersea continues to play a
leading role on a variety of different
groups that are focused on bringing
about positive change for dogs and
cats in the UK.
Battersea’s ability to influence animal
welfare policy is strengthened by
our Chief Executive, Claire Horton,
who is a strategic link between
Government and the animal welfare
sector. She champions the sector
as Non-Executive Director on the
Government’s Animal Health and
Welfare Board for England (AHWBE),
represents AHWBE on the Canine
and Feline Sector Group (CFSG),
holds the Chairmanship of the
Association of Dogs and Cats Homes
(ADCH) and sits as a special advisor
to the All Party Group on Animal
Welfare (APGAW) in Westminster.
Battersea is committed to bringing
the sector together and helping it
to speak with one voice, ensuring
that like-minded dog and cat rescue
organisations across the British
Isles are supported, informed and
able to work collaboratively.
