Dangerous Move (If It's True)

[Canary42]

https://uk.yahoo.com/news/voices-tin-eared-truss-embark-101450984.html

A report that the PM is about to upset the animal lobby.

I doubt its veracity, I know that A Liz-in-Blunderland is pretty dumb, but not that dumb surely.

[barry1010]

That report says the bill is only days or weeks away from becoming law. That isn't true, it is still being debated in the Commons and still has to progress through the Lords before being ratified. Months away at best.

It proposes that primates cannot be kept without a licence. That can only be a good thing, primates are not ideal pets and are difficult to keep.

It also proposes stronger penalties for owners of dogs that attack livestock.

Bans exports of livestock for slaughter.
Interestingly the UK exports the fewest number of livestock in Europe and our biggest export is horses, presumably for horsemeat.

Creates the offence of 'dognapping', currently it is treated as theft.

Applies restrictions on the import of 'certain dogs, cats and ferrets' - it seems to aim to limit the import of 'rescue dogs' from Eastern Europe and other countries but I could be wrong. If any is interested, I would appreciate clarification.

Reclassification of zoos.

It is not a major overhaul of the law and I can't see why Truss would oppose it. Maybe she is a major exporter of horses and chickens and has a houseful of spider monkeys.

[Untitled]

Well she said she is willing to do things that are unpopular didn’t she….

[emmie]

good for her. Livestock attacks are on the increase and are a bane to farmers lives, any one found to have let their dog off the lead nearby should face a stiff fine.

[barry1010]

Really, if it becomes law not many people will be affected. There are roughly 5000 primates kept as pets (estimates are between 2,000 and 7,000) and the owners can already be prosecuted for animal cruelty/neglect. It will create jobs within the local authorities, though. Six yearly inspections and issuing licences.

Livestock will have to be slaughtered before export. More work for the UK slaughterhouses and the frozen container hauliers. Surely it is cheaper to transport meat than livestock.
A stolen dog is still a stolen pet whatever name you give to the offence.

I'm all for restricting so-called rescue dogs from Europe being sold in the UK. It is just a way to avoid the current dog breeding and sales laws and is a big money-making scheme. Many people will disagree with me.

If this bill is scrapped I don't think people will be marching in the streets, protesting.

[barry1010]

emmie, dogs that worry livestock are already destroyed and owners can be fined up to £1000. A harsher sentence won't make any difference.

[barry1010]

Oh, I think you've got the wrong end of the stick - the report says Truss wants to stop the bill becoming law.

[Spicerack]

The story is she's going to ditch the bill, em.

[DTCwordfan]

Wow, wow, wow - this must be near top of her in-tray, so important that it is.

[emmie]

that's not good then.

[emmie]

sorry dogs off the lead around livestock, causing loss of sheep as i said is on the increase, the owners should be held accountable.

[Spicerack]

Apparently she's also lifting the ban on forcing young children up chimneys. (if it's true)

[barry1010]

They are, emmie. They risk their dogs being destroyed and a hefty fine. This bill proposes no radical changes for livestock worrying and it won't change the behaviour of those dog owners. If they are willing to risk their dogs being destroyed now then a change in wording on a piece of paper isn't going to change them.

[emmie]

a threat of a prison sentence might deter some,

[barry1010]

The bill does not propose a prison sentence - just a fine of £1000 maximum and the destruction of the dog, just the same as it is now

[emmie]

shame as i would send them to prison, harsh maybe, but farmers losing their livestock this way is very hard for them.

[barry1010]

I would, too, but often it is due to ignorance and stupidity rather than an intended act. For many having the dog destroyed is the worst possible punishment.