Impact of legislation on wildlife rehabilitators

[lynnecart]

The British Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (BWRC) is calling for opinions from rehabilitators regarding the potential future impact of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (and subsequent secondary legislation) on practicing wildlife rehabilitators in the UK. You can read this legislation on the UK Statute Law Database website at http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk.

The Act requires owners and keepers of animals to meet their welfare needs and it is envisaged that animal sanctuaries (including wildlife rehabilitation facilities) may, at some point in the future, be registered and possibly licensed (and therefore inspected) by local authorities. In the USA activities like wildlife rehabilitation are quite strictly controlled; individuals and establishments are licensed separately as individuals need to demonstrate competence, while establishments need to be suitable.

The BWRC wishes to encourage rehabilitators to give their views & discuss the potential consequences of further legislation by completing and returning our questionnaire, and/or by contributing to discussion at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Coalition Symposium 2009. For more information on the survey, and this year's Symposium (which takes place on 21 November 2009 at Writtle College, Chelmsford, Essex), visit our website - http://www.bwrc.org.uk.