Animal Welfare Act 2006

The Animal Welfare Act 2006 lies at the heart of the protection of animal welfare in England and Wales.

Under section 9 of the Act, all persons responsible for an animal, including a horse, must ensure that the following basic needs are met:

• i. A suitable environment
• ii. A suitable diet
• iii. Ability to express normal behaviour
• iv. To be housed with or apart from other animals as appropriate
• v. To be protected from pain, injury and disease

The Act does not compel owners to provide the highest level of care but rather the minimum in order to ensure that welfare is met. The Act enables action to be taken, usually by charities, when standards fall below those required by the Act.