Animal Welfare

Cruelty to animals - who should you call?

If you suspect that an animal of any kind is being subjected to any form or cruelty then the only organisation that can legally deal with this is the Royal Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals ( RSPCA )  (external link) to contact the National Cruelty Helpline 0870 5555 999.

Cheshire County Council  (external link) has formal links with the Department of Food and Rural Affairs ( DEFRA )  (external link) in enforcing national legislation governing the health and welfare of farm animals. This includes responding to complaints of neglect or ill treatment of livestock on farms, during transport, at markets, etc.

The identification and registration schemes that are in place to control animal movements are also overseen by Cheshire County Council (external link), along with the issuing of animal movement licences for on farm movements and movement to slaughter.

Thecouncil functions in animal welfare are:

Dog Warden

• The control of stray dogs under the Environmental Protection Act 1990
• Noise Control under the EPA 1990 (barking dogs and other animal noise)
• Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996. Including bin installations, dog fouling notices and 'poop scoop' bags.

Environmental Health Officers

• Animal Boarding Establishment Act 1963  (external link)
• Pet Animals Act 1951  (external link)