animal welfare early warning

7/29/2019 Animal Welfare Early Warning

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Farm Animal Welfare Early Warning System

A Collaborative system involving the Dept of Agriculture &

Food, the IFA (Irish Farmers Assocation) and the ISPCA(Irish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals):

Note : DAF = Dept of Agriculture & Food

DVO = District Veterinary Office of DAF located in each county

SPCA = local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Guiding principles :

1. Primary responsibility for the care and welfare of his/her animals rests at all

times with the farmer.

2. Where actual or potential welfare problems are identified, the earliest possible

intervention is desirable.

3. Many actual or potential animal welfare problems are manifestations of

temporary or more fundamental social/personal problems on the affected

farms.

4. The identification of actual/potential problems, as a basis for earlyintervention, will be enhanced by a collaborative approach between key

interested parties, most notably the Dept of Agriculture & Food (DAF), farmer

representative bodies and local Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to

Animals (SPCAs).

5. Recognising the human dimension to many cases, early and effective

intervention will, in many cases, be best achieved by a sensitive, personal

approach, which is non-confrontational and is perceived as helpful. In this

regard, it is recognised that the involvement of regulatory personnel in the

initial approach to an affected farmer may add to rather than lessen the level of

anxiety and may be counter-productive.

6. Notwithstanding point 5 above, where there is any suspicion of the presence of

a notifiable animal disease, a local veterinary surgeon and/or the local District

Veterinary Office (DVO) of the Dept of Agriculture & Food must be alerted.

7. The emphasis is on dealing with problems in a collaborative way, involving,

as appropriate, some or all of the three organisations concerned. Where this is

not possible and where circumstances so warrant, it is recognised that

prosecutions may be taken by DAF.


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8. The three organisations acknowledge the role of the Garda Siochana under the

Protection of Animals Act 1911 (as amended).

Basic Structural Elements and Time-scale for full roll-out

1. Dept of Agriculture & Food (DAF) - a named liaison person will be

designated in the DAF District Veterinary Office in each county.

2. IFA - 2 named liaison persons to be designated in each county.

3. SPCAs - 1 or 2 named liaison persons to be designated in each county, plus

5 national inspectors.

4. Orientation for IFA designees

5. Training and orientation sessions for SPCA designees

6. Phased start-up (active arrangements possible in some counties earlier thanothers).

7. Orientation/briefing/training meetings, initially at regional level, will be

arranged by the three organisations, with all necessary arrangements in place

at county level as soon as possible. The objective is to commence national

roll-out and operation of the system during Winter 2004, acknowledging that

roll-out will be on a phased basis.

Operation

1. Where an SPCA receives a call about an actual/potential problem case, it will

undertake an observation visit and keep IFA informally advised. If this visit

indicates a cause for concern, SPCA will approach the farmer. If co-operation

is not forthcoming, SPCA will advise local IFA and a joint approach will be

made to the farmer (with designated DVO liaison person being kept

informally advised). If no co-operation is forthcoming at this stage, SPCA will

formally advise the DVO.

2. Where IFA receives a call from an affected farmer, it will seek to provide the

necessary assistance and will endeavour to cooperate with the local SPCA if

and when requested to do so.

3. Where DAF receives a call, it is acknowledged that this must be treated as a

conscious desire on the part of the caller/complainant to involve a State

agency. In following up such cases, DAF will liase with the IFA and SPCA at

local level.

4. Based on experience of past problem cases and of seasonal difficulties etc.

DAF will maintain a level of vigilance with a view to identifying and, as

appropriate, following up on potential problem cases.

5. Each of the relevant organisations will ensure that its personnel are fully awareof, and in a position to operate this agreed system.

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6. Each organisation will endeavour to operate these agreed arrangements with

the minimum of publicity and at all times preserve the confidentiality of all

parties.

7. Means will be put in place of advising, updating and publishing contact namesfor each county/region, to facilitate the public in using this system.

Review

1. The three organisations will jointly review the operation of the system after a

period of 12 months and will advise the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory

Council of the outcome of such review.

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