Council passes motion calling for animal cruelty register in NI

A Northern Ireland council has passed a motion calling for the introduction of an animal cruelty register.
Sorcha EastwoodSorcha Eastwood
Sorcha Eastwood

Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council Alliance representative Sorcha Eastwood’s motion will see the council write a letter to the Department of Agriculture calling for a log of those convicted and disqualified from keeping animals across Northern Ireland.

The proposal, which also called for a publicly accessible list of dog breeders, was also amended by the DUP’s Sharon Skillen who called for the introduction of Lucy’s Law here.

The introduction of Lucy Law’s to Northern Ireland would mean anyone wanting to get a new puppy or kitten in England must now buy direct from a breeder, or consider adopting from a rescue centre instead.

Ms Eastwood said: “Over the last year in particular we have seen people who have taken on animals and basically they’re woefully neglecting them unfortunately in a lot of cases.

“Recently cats remains were found on the roadside in Lurgan and for all that we know that person could’ve gone and purchased that animal online very easily.

“We have no idea about a lot of thee websites and other unregulated people advertising animals. We have no idea who they are and even worse people who have previous convictions for it.

“What I am calling for is we have a list of people on a register who have been convicted of hurting animals.

“It’s just too easy for them at the minute to go about getting animals and are breeding them illegally which leads to the death of many animals prematurely.”

Sharon Skillen added her support saying: “Animal welfare is something that everybody in society should care about.

“An offenders register would allow the council to work along with DEARA on the protection of animals.”

All parties offered Councillor Eastwood their full support before the motion passed unanimously.

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