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ANIMAL CARE
The Diseases of Animals Act, 1950, deals inter alia with the enforcement of
general orders relating to the movement of animals; the cleansing and disinfection
of places and vehicles occupied by animals; the protection of animals from suffering
during transit; the importation, exportation and quarantine of animals; the
keeping of records by owners and others relating to animals and poultry; and
during outbreaks of specified diseases, the enforcement of special orders relating to
the control of the movement of animals and disinfection of places, vehicles and
articles, etc.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food made nine Orders during the
year controlling the movement of livestock in areas affected by foot and mouth
disease and 11 for areas affected with swine fever. In consequence, 15 Movement
Orders were received, giving notice of animals being moved into the Borough, and
three were issued by the Health Department for the movement of livestock out of
the Borough.
No incidents of notifiable disease in animals occurred within the Borough
during the year.
The Diseases of Animals (Waste Foods) Order, 1957, requires licensing where
plant and equipment is used for the boiling of waste foods for animal feeding.
There are 16 pig keepers’ establishments within the Borough and these receive
routine inspections from the public health inspectors. Only three of these use plant
and equipment for the boiling of waste foods and are duly licensed.
The Riding Establishments Act, 1964, empowers a local authority to authorise
any of its officers or a registered veterinary surgeon to inspect any premises believed
to be used as a riding establishment and to license them if satisfactory. Riding
establishment means any stables or other premises whatsoever at which horses
are kept for the purpose of being let out on hire for riding or of being used in
providing in return for payment instruction in riding.
It is an offence for any person to let out on hire or use for providing instruction
any horse in such a condition that its use for that purpose will be likely to
cause suffering to the horse, or to keep a horse for these purposes in so neglected
a state or in such conditions that suffering is, or is likely to be, caused to the horse.
There were five riding establishments in the Borough at 1st April, 1966. Following
inspections, the Council issued licences for the five.
Under the Pet Animals Act, 1951, no person may keep a pet shop without a
licence granted by a local authority; the licence contains conditions relating to
suitable accommodation, provision of food and drink, avoidance of sale of
mammals at too early an age, prevention of infectious disease and fire precautions.
The number of persons licensed at the end of the year was 11. All premises
were inspected and found to be satisfactory.
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