Registration and licensing of animal sanctuaries and rehoming activities in Scotland: consultation

Part IV – Consultation Questions

All of the consultation questions are listed below. When considering these, we ask that you take into consideration the information provided in this document alongside any other knowledge or personal experiences that could be relevant. All opinions are welcome.

We ask that you use either the online Citizenspace facility or the consultation questionnaire provided to respond to this consultation as this will help with our analysis of responses. Please try to answer all the questions; however if you are unable to answer any particular question then please feel free to move on to the next. The questionnaire and on-line facility will also ask questions relating to your interest in this matter and where you currently reside; this will aid in the analysis of the responses to this consultation.

In order for us to deal with your response appropriately in terms of making responses publically available, please ensure that you complete a Respondent Information Form. This will ensure that if you ask for your response not to be published that we regard it as confidential and will treat it accordingly.

Consultation questions

1. The Scottish Government proposes that animal sanctuaries and rehoming centres should be regulated. Do you agree?

Yes
No

2. Do you agree with the principle that registration is appropriate for those with fewer animals and that licensing is appropriate for those with more animals?

Yes
No

3. Do you have any comments on the thresholds that should apply? Should these be different for separate species?

Comments:

4. Larger organisations and charities that may have a network of homes and smaller branches in different local authority areas should be able to apply centrally for the relevant licensing. Do you agree?

Yes
No

5. The Scottish Government believes that all premises must be inspected before licensing (but not registration). We propose that, as well as local authorities, expert independent bodies, such as Scottish SPCA, should be able to carry out inspections. Do you agree?

Yes
No

Comments:

6. Do you agree that individuals with unspent convictions for animal welfare offences or other criminal convictions (e.g. fraud) should not be allowed to register or hold a licence for an animal sanctuary or rehoming activity?

Yes
No

Comments:

7. Are there other requirements, apart from criminal, that should be part of a ‘fit and proper person’ test for those running animal sanctuaries or rehoming activities?

Comments:

8. The Scottish Government proposes that reasonable costs of inspections should be charged to recover costs to inspectors approved by Scottish Ministers or local authorities. Do you agree with that proposal? To note: It is expected that registration will be free or incur a nominal fee.

Yes
No

9. Should licence fees be set by the authorised inspectors, local authorities or by the Scottish Government? Do you have any comments on what cost is reasonable and what should be included in this? ( For example, this might include recovery of administrative costs, or payment for the inspectors time etc).

Comments:

10. The Scottish Government considers that licences lasting more or less than one year may be issued on the basis of a welfare risk assessment. Do you agree?

Yes
No

Comments:

11. Do you consider that the relevant Local Authority should have a duty to enforce the regulations on animal sanctuaries and rehoming activities in Scotland?

Yes
No

12. Do you consider that the Scottish SPCA should be able to act on behalf of the relevant Local Authority using the powers contained in Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 to enforce proposed regulations on animal sanctuaries and rehoming activities in Scotland?

Yes
No

13. Do you think that a national list of licensed premises and activities should be kept?

Yes
No

Comments:

14. Do you have any comments on who should be able to access information from the list, and if a charge should be made for information?

Yes
No

Comments:

15. The Scottish Government believes that enforcement agencies should be able to suspend, vary or revoke registrations and licences or issue improvement notices for minor irregularities. Do you agree with this proposal?

Yes
No

Comments:

16. The Scottish Government proposes to adopt welfare standards based on those published by the Association of Dog and Cat Homes that all licensed animal sanctuaries and rehoming organisations should follow for the species they hold. Do you agree that this should be a condition of licensing? If you are aware of any other relevant standards please comment.

Yes
No

Comments:

17. Do you agree that appropriate fixed penalties should apply for minor non-compliance with the legislation?

Yes
No

About the consultation

While we have done our best to explain the issues facing us clearly, there may be

aspects that you feel we have not explained well or have not covered at all.

The following questions in this consultation paper are to provide you with the

opportunity to raise such points, and to provide us with feedback on the consultation

itself.

1. Are there any other measures you consider should be included in legislation for animal sanctuaries and rehoming activities in Scotland?

Yes
No

Comments:

2. Do you consider that that consultation explained the key issues sufficiently to properly consider your responses?

Yes
No

3. Do you consider that you had sufficient time to respond to the consultation?

Yes
No

4. Do you have any other comments on the way this consultation has been conducted?

Comments: