Ulster Unionist Party Deputy Leader Robbie Butler MLA has welcomed the Northern Ireland Assembly’s decision to reject an amendment tabled by the Alliance Party, which sought to remove any mention of the practice of euthanising healthy dogs after just five days if they are not reclaimed.

Mr Butler said, “I was genuinely surprised when I read the Alliance Party’s amendment. It appeared more concerned with shielding their Minister. I was frankly shocked that their proposal aimed to delete a key, though disturbing, element of our motion: the fact that healthy dogs can be put to sleep after only five days if they remain unclaimed. As I said during the debate, we know that if it isn’t written down, it doesn’t get done. That said, I was pleased that other parties stood with us in rejecting the amendment.

“I sincerely hope that Minister Muir and the Alliance Party recognise the urgency of a regional approach to pet welfare and introduces or amends existing legislation that ends the postcode lottery approach across different councils.”

UUP Motion: Review of Local Councils’ Animal Welfare Policies

Proposed:

That this Assembly believes in the highest standard of welfare for dogs in Northern Ireland; commends the work of the Dogs Trust and many other rehoming organisations and charities; expresses concern at the lack of support and oversight from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs regarding enforcement of animal welfare legislation by local councils; is alarmed at the policy of euthanising healthy dogs after just five days if they are not reclaimed; supports the Dogs Trust’s calls for legislation to ensure that all animal welfare establishments, including dog pounds, are licensed and have regular unannounced inspections; and calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to review local councils’ dog pound and kennelling policies, including the euthanising of healthy dogs and bringing forward a standardised approach across all councils.

Alliance Amendment

Leave out all after ‘charities;’ and insert:

‘welcomes the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affair’s work to actively examine the case for inspecting and licensing rescue and rehoming organisations and bring forward relevant legislation thereafter; notes that the vast majority of stray dogs are claimed or rehomed; and calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to publish his animal welfare pathway to improve animal welfare across Northern Ireland.’