Animal health and welfare services are undertaken by Animal Health Officers in the Environmental Health Section of the Public Protection Division.
Activities:
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Inspect all business premises containing animals to ensure compliance with relevant standards and promote welfare issues.
- Respond to emergency service requests without undue delay and other complaints within five working days.
- Administer licensing system for movement of farm animals.
- Monitor the movements of livestock throughout the County Borough by random static and mobile “blue light” roadside stops and checks.
- License animal establishments as required by legislation.
- Distribute guidance leaflets and codes of practice to promote a better understanding of legal welfare requirements.
- Assist the State Veterinary Service with enforcement of restrictions during outbreaks of notifiable diseases.
- Liaise with the State Veterinary Service on the implementation of Welsh Assembly Government policies for animal health and welfare, including contingency planning.
- Liaise with local Authorities and other enforcement agencies to ensure a coordinated approach and cooperate on cross-border issues and referrals.
- Develop further links with organisations involved in the livestock and companion animal trade with a view to improving welfare standards.
Animal Health Officers will endeavour to ensure that animal owners and keepers are aware of legal requirements and duty of care responsibilities, providing advice and assistance when requested.
ROUND-UP
Our farm animal health work concerns animal welfare, animal disease control
and food chain issues. Most of the livestock we deal with will, at some point, contribute to the food chain. Our work plays a vital role in ensuring that the animals have been raised and kept to standards that are recognised as humane. Disease control is also vital to the rural economy as evidenced by the devastating effects of the foot and mouth disease crisis. What appears
to be bureaucratic paper exercises could save us from a similar notifiable disease outbreak. Biosecurity is essential and should be a routine part of daily duties on farm, at markets, abattoirs and other venues such as shows.
Our officers recognise that the livestock industry has changed radically over the past few years. We make every effort to enforce the legislation in a fair and pragmatic way.
There are numerous reasons why farmers do not comply with the legislation, as they should. We are very sensitive to the possibilities that a farmer for whatever reason may be suffering from stress. This can result in issues being avoided and/or ignored. To this end we make every effort to keep up to date with developments in the area to help us understand the issues better and provide help and support when appropriate.
Please do not wait until it is too late, contact an Animal Health Officer for advice.
