Plans to modernise animal welfare laws put forward

Proposed legislation on certain traps will align Guernsey with England, Wales and Scotland

Plans to strengthen Guernsey's animal welfare laws have been put forward by the Environment and Infrastructure (E&I).

They aim to provide better protection for wild and domestic animals by modernising current laws and allow for greater enforcement within animal welfare investigations.

Proposals include tighter restrictions on the use of certain traps, such as snares and leg-hold or "gin traps".

The president of E&I, Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, said it is "essential" that local laws "demonstrate commitment to international conventions".

States Veterinary Officer David Chamberlain said they had found evidence of snares being set on the island, including when a cat returned home with what appeared to be a homemade snare around his neck last month.

'Not exploited'

Guernsey follows the Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals and its agreements, which restricts the use of those traps to capture or kill animals.

Mr Chamberlain said: "Changes will bring local legislation to a comparable level with other jurisdictions and will provide the States Veterinary Officers with powers to take enforcement action where it is appropriate."

Deputy Sausmarez added that the proposals link into Guernsey's efforts to participate in Free Trade Agreements and ensure the island's credibility as a jurisdiction.

Other proposals include preventing the use of wild animals in circuses and prohibiting the production of foie gras by force-feeding.

Deputy de Sausmarez said whilst those activities are not happening locally, it is important to make sure there is "no doubt" about what can and can not be done.

She added the proposals would "make sure that we're not exploited because of a lack of clarity in our legislation as it currently stands".