WSAVA Convention for the Protection of Companion Animals

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One of the major aims and objectives of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) is furthering the cause of animal welfare in the light of current veterinary scientific knowledge.

As a basic for these aims and objectives, the member associations of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association have endorsed the general principles of companion animal welfare stated in the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals. Several modifications to the European Convention have been made in the light of current veterinary knowledge on animal welfare issues.

These principles and modifications are expressed as the WSAVA Convention for the Protection of Companion Animals. The Assembly of the WSAVA, at their 1995 Yokohama Congress endorsed this Convention. The WSAVA Convention has been presented to the Animal Welfare committee of the World Veterinary Association for consideration and adoption by the WVA.

The member associations of the World Small Veterinary Association offer this Convention for the considerations by its member associations for discussion and adoption by individual Associations.

Preamble

This Convention recognises that man has a moral obligation to respect all other living creatures and to protect the environment in which we all live on the planet.

This Convention recognises man has developed a close and special relationship with certain species of animals and that these animals have been kept as companions of man over many centuries. For this reason these animals have become known as companion or pet animals.

Companion animals are known to improve the quality of human life and have enormous value society. However, the enormous numbers and variety of animals, which are kept by man, create various difficulties and problems. Among these problems are the risks inherent in companion animal overpopulation for the hygiene, health and safety of man and other animals, particularly in heavily populated urban environments.

This Convention recognises that man occasionally keeps as companions or pets, those species of animals normally recognised as wild free-living fauna. While the member associations of the WSAVA believe that this practice should be discouraged, this Convention makes provision for the humane care of such species in those cases where release back to the wild state would endanger the animal’s life or be unacceptable for other reasons.

The member associations of the WSAVA are aware that many companion animals are not always kept in conditions that promote their health and well-being.

The member associations of the WSAVA understand and acknowledge that the attitude of man towards the welfare of companion animals varies widely across the countries of the world.

Where animal welfare issues are either neglected or poorly understood due to limited knowledge and public awareness, the member associations of the WSAVA agree to use their influence and veterinary knowledge to educate the community about animals and to increase community awareness of all issues affecting animal welfare.

The member associations of the WSAVA, in common with the member countries of the Council of Europe, considers that a basic common standard of attitude and practice, which result in responsible pet ownership, is not only desirable, but also a realistic goal. Adoption of the terms of this Convention by the member associations of WSAVA is part of the process of achieving this goal.

Part 1 – General Provisions

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Sections 1

Definitions used in this Convention

By Convention is meant the WSAVA Convention for the Protection of Companion Animals as outlined below.

By companion or pet animal is meant any animal kept or intended to be kept by man, in particular in his household, for mutual pleasure and personal companionship.

By trading in companion animal is meant all regular business transactions, carried out for profit, which involve the chance of ownership of companion animals.

By commercial breeding and boarding is meant the breeding or boarding of mainly companion animals, carried out for profit.

By animal sanctuary or refuge is meant a non-profit making establishment where companion animals may be kept in substantial numbers. If national legislative and/or administrative measures permit, such establishments may accept stray animals.

By a stray animal is meant an animal, of a type normally kept as a companion or pet, which either has no home or that is outside the normal bounds of it’s owner or keeper’s household and is not under the control or direct supervision of any owner or keeper.

By competent authority or responsible authority is meant the authority designated by the member state, municipality or country to undertake control, administration and implementation of legislative aspects of animal control in the community.

Section 2

Scope and implementation of this Convection

Each member association of the WSAVA undertakes to take necessary steps to promote and to give effect to the provisions of this Convection in respect of :

a. Companion animals kept by a person or legal entity in any household or in any establishment for trading commercial breeding and boarding, and in animal sanctuaries and refuges.

b. Where appropriate, stray animals.

Nothing in this Convention shall affect the implementation of other legislation or instrument

designed for the protection of animals or the conservation of threatened wild species , unless the terms of such legislation or instruments is contrary to the animal welfare principles espoused in this Convention.

Nothing is this Convention shall affect the liberty of the member associations of the WSAVA to adopt or promote stricter measures for the protection of companion or pet animals or to apply the provisions contained herein to categories of animals, which have not been mentioned expressly in this instruments.

Part 2 – Principles for the keeping of companion /pet animals

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Section 3

Cruelty to and abandonment of companion animals to be an offence

It should be an offence, punishable by an appropriate penalty imposed by the competent authority , for any person to knowingly cause a companion animal unnecessary pain, suffering or distress.

It should be an offence , punishable by an appropriate penalty imposed by the competent authority, for any person to knowingly abandon a companion animal.

Section 4

Keeping of companion/pet animals

i. Any person who keeps a companion animal or who has agreed to look after a companion animal should responsible for its health and welfare.

ii. Any person who is keeping a companion animal or who is looking after a companion animal should provide accommodation, care and attention which take into account the biological and ethnological needs of the animal in accordance with its species ad breed, in particular:

a. Provide it with suitable and sufficient food and water;

b. Provide it with adequate opportunities for exercise:

c. Take all reasonable measures to prevent it from becoming a stray animal.

d. Provide accommodation, heating and light suitable for that species

iii) An animal should not be kept as a companion animal if:

a. The conditions of paragraph (ii) above are not met or if,

b. In spite of these conditions being met , the animal cannot adapt itself to

captivity and domestication.

Section 5

Responsibility for the breeding of companion/pet animals

Any person who selects a companion animal for breeding should be responsible for having due regard to the anatomical, physiological and behavioral characteristics which are likely to put at risk the health and welfare of either the offspring or the female parent .

The practice of over-breeding from any one female should be discouraged. Particular care should be taken to avoid breeding female animals that are either too young or too old. The interval between litters should be sufficient to allow the female to recover normal physical and physiological condition.

Any person who breeds from a companion animal should, as far as possible, be responsible for placing the weaned offspring of the female parent into the care of a person who will look after such animals in accordance with Section 4, paragraph (ii) of this Convention.

Section 6

Age-limit on acquisition of companion animals

No companion animal should be sold to persons under the age of 16 years without the knowledge and express consent of their parents or other persons exercising parental responsibilities.

Section 7

Training of companion animals

No companion animal should be trained in such a way that is detrimental to its health and welfare, especially by methods which force it to exceed its natural capacities or strength or by employing artificial training aids which may cause physical injury, pain, suffering or distress.

Section 8

Trading, commercial breeding and boarding, animal sanctuaries and refuges.

i. Any person, who is already trading in or who is commercially breeding companion animals or boarding companion animals or who is operating an animal sanctuary or refuge should declare this activity to the competent authority within an appropriate period to be determined by the competent authority.

ii. People with only one breeding female animal shall be considered commercial breeders if that animal is bred at regular intervals and the offspring sold.

iii. Any person who intends to engage in any of these activities should declare this intention to the competent authority.

The declaration should stipulate:

a. The species of companion animals which are involved or to be involved;

b. The person or persons responsible and their knowledge, prior experience and any formal qualifications applicable to the proposed activity;

c. A description of the premises and equipment used or to be used.

The above-mentioned activities should only be carried out:

a. If the person responsible has the knowledge, qualifications and abilities required for the activity either as a result of professional training or of sufficient prior experience with the animal concerned.

and

b. If the premises and equipment used for the activity comply with the requirements set out in Section 4

The competent authority shall determine the basis of the declaration made under the provisions of paragraph 1 whether or not the conditions set out in paragraph 3 are being complied with. If these conditions are not adequately met, it should recommend measures and, if necessary for the welfare of the animals, it shall prohibit the commencement or continuation of the activity until they can be met.

The competent authority or their appointed agents should, in accordance with appropriate national legislation, be the body responsible for supervision and accreditation of the above-mentioned conditions.

Section 9

Use of companion animals in advertising, entertainment, exhibitions, competitions and similar events.

i. Companion animals should not be in used in advertising, entertainment, exhibitions, competitions and similar events unless:

a) The Organizer has created appropriate conditions for the companion animals to be treated in accordance with the requirement of Section 4, paragraph (ii)

and

b. The animal’s health and welfare are not put at risk.

ii. No substances should be given to, treatments applied to, or devices used on a companion animal for the purposes of increasing or decreasing its natural level of performance.

a. During competition or

b) At any other time, when this would put at risk the health and welfare of the animal.

Section 10

Non-therapeutic surgical operations on companion animals

i. Surgical operations for the purpose of modifying the appearance of a companion animal for non-therapeutic purposes should be actively discouraged.

ii) Where possible legislation should be enacted to prohibit the performance of non-therapeutic surgical procedures for purely cosmetic purposes, in particular.

a. Docking of tails;

b. Cropping of ears;

c. Devocalisation;

d. Declawing and defanging

ii. Exceptions to these prohibitions should be permitted only:

a. If a veterinarian considers that the particular surgical procedure is necessary either for veterinary medical reasons or where euthanasia is the only alternative to either devocalisation

declawing or defanging.

b. To prevent reproduction and the breeding or unwanted animals;

Requirement for anaesthesia for the performance of surgical procedures

a. All operations in which the animal will or is likely to experience pain should be carried out under anaesthesia.

b. Anaesthesia should only be administered by a veterinarian or under the direct supervision of a veterinarian.

Section 11

Killing/euthanasia of companion animals

i. Only a veterinarian or another competent person, authorized under national legislation, should kill or carry out euthanasia on a companion animal; except where it is necessary to terminate an animal’s suffering in an emergency , when veterinary or other competent assistance cannot be obtained or in any other emergency covered by national legislation.

ii) All killing should be done rapidly with the minimum of physical and mental suffering appropriate to the circumstances.

iii) The method chosen, except in an emergency should either:

a. Cause immediate loss of consciousness and subsequent death,

Or

b. Begin with the induction of deep general anaesthesia to be followed by a step which will ultimately and certainly cause death.

iii) The person responsible for the killing should also be responsible to ensure that the animal is

dead before the carcass is disposed of.

iv) The following methods of killing animals are considered inhumane and should be prohibited:

a. Drowning, strangulations and other methods of suffocation;

b. The use of any poisonous substance or drug, the dose and application of which cannot be controlled so as to give the effect mentioned in Section 11,

paragraph (ii) and (iii) (a) & (b);

c. Electrocution unless preceded by immediate induction of loss of consciousness as specified in Section 11 paragraph (iii) (a) & (b)

Part 3- Supplementary measures for stray animals.

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Section 12

Reduction of numbers of stray animals

When a member associations of the WSAVA considers that the numbers of stray animals in the community present the community with a problem, is should take this issue up with the competent authority to promote the appropriate legislative and/or administrative measures necessary to reduce their numbers in a way that does not cause pain, suffering of distress.

i) Such measures should include the requirements that :

a. If such stray animals are to be captured, that this is done with the minimum of physical and mental suffering appropriate to the species of animals;

b. Where captured stray animals are either kept or killed this is done in accordance with the principles as laid down in this Convention.

c. Only healthy, non-aggressive stray animals should be re-homed or placed back in the community.

d. Where applicable, stray animals should be surgically sterilized and suitably vaccinated by a veterinarian before doing re-homed or placed back into the community.

i. Member associations of the WSAVA undertake to promote to the responsible competent authority that :

a) Companion animals in the community should be permanently identified by some appropriate permanent method which causes no undue pain, suffering or distress, such as electronic microchipping or tattooing.

b) Details of this identification should be recorded in a central register together with the name, telephone numbers and address of their owners.

c) This register should be accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to all parties in the community responsible for the management and control of stray animals.

d) The unplanned breeding of dogs and cats in the community should be reduced by actively promoting the neutering of these animals, preferably prior to sexual maturity.

a. The finder of any stray dog or cats should be encouraged to report it to the competent authority.

Section 13

Exceptions for capture keeping and killing of companion animals

Exceptions to the principles laid down in this Convention for the capture, the keeping and the killing of stray animals should only be made if unavoidable in the framework of national disease control programs and, where possible, any method of killing used should conform to the provisions of Section 11.

Part 4 – Information and Education

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Section 14

Information and educations programs

The members associations of the WSAVA undertake to encourage the development of information and education programs so as to promote awareness and knowledge amongst responsible authorities and the organisations and individuals concerned with the keeping, breeding, training, trading and boarding of companion animals, of the provisions and the principles embodied in this Convention.

In these programs, particular attention should be drawn to the following subjects:

i) The need for training companion animals for any commercial of competitive purposes to be carried out only by persons with adequate knowledge and ability;

ii) The need to discourage;

a. Gifts of companion animals to persons under the age of 16 without the express knowledge and consent of their parents or other persons exercising parental responsibilities.

b. Gift of companion animals as prizes, awards or bonuses.

c. Unplanned breeding of companion animals.

i. The possible negative consequences for the health and well being of wild animals if they were to be acquired or introduced as companion animals.

iv) The risks of irresponsible acquisition of companion animals leading to an increase in the number of unwanted and abandoned animals.