Gardeners critical over slug protection laws
By Fiona Govan
(Filed: 11/07/2004)
http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/mai...11/nslug11.xml
A new animal welfare law that will offer slugs and snails the same
protection as cats and dogs was condemned by gardeners yesterday.


Legislation to be announced by the Government this week will give
courts the power to impose fines of up to £20,000 and 12 months in
jail on people found guilty of mistreating animals. Anyone under the
age of 16 will be banned from owning a pet and goldfish will no longer
be allowed to be given as prizes at fairgrounds.

The legislation could lead to gardeners being fined for killing
insects, worms, caterpillars, slugs and snails, if scientific evidence
proves they have suffered pain and distress. Ministers say the law,
which updates existing legislation, is needed to protect animals from
abuse. Horticulturalists rejected the idea that they could be guilty
of cruelty.

Bunny Guinness, The Telegraph gardening columnist and six-times winner
of the gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show, said gardeners should
not be liable to fines for protecting their gardens. "Hundreds of
slugs and snails are being slaughtered in gardens up and down the
country. It would be quite ridiculous to call that cruelty. Almost all
gardeners use slug pellets or salt to keep the pests at bay," she
said.

John Cushnie, a regular panellist on Radio 4's Gardeners' Question
Time, said some aspects of the legislation were nonsensical. "To give
worms and slugs protection under the law is ludicrous. If I have an
infestation of slugs or snails or cabbage white butterflies then I
will get rid of them in whatever way I choose. No one is going to tell
me that the things are suffering. If I want to boil them alive, stamp
on them or treat them to a slow drawn-out death by poison then I will
- and would like to see the Government that would try to interfere
with a man and his garden."

The draft Bill, which updates the Protection of Animals Act 1911, will
be published next week by Ben Bradshaw, the minister for animal
welfare. The penalties for cruelty would double the present maximum
jail sentence and substantially increase the £5,000 maximum fine.
Anyone owning a pet, farm or exotic animal would have a statutory duty
of care towards it and could have it taken away. They could also be
banned from looking after another. Unborn animals will receive the
same protection.

RSPCA inspectors would gain the right to enter without a warrant any
lorry, ferry, plane or hovercraft carrying animals. This has been
included because of the growing awareness of the suffering of
livestock on long journeys.

Inspectors entering a private home without a warrant would need to be
accompanied by police.

The crackdown follows pressure from the RSPCA and organisations such
as the Kennel Club, but has been criticised for not going far enough.
The draft contains no reference to circus animals and fails to ban
tail docking.

The RSPCA welcomed the Bill but said it would continue to campaign for
stricter protection. "This would be the single most important piece of
welfare legislation affecting animals since 1911," a spokesman said.

The Countryside Alliance expressed concern that the law would be
interpreted for animals used for sport or recreation. Even though the
changes are not intended to affect hunting, shooting or fishing, the
alliance fears animal rights campaigners could attempt to use them in
relation to dogs in hunt kennels, racehorses in stables and pheasants
reared for game shoots. A spokesman said: "The law could be taken too
literally. If people can be prosecuted for causing their pets
psychological distress then a man could be arrested for having a
depressed dog."

28 May 2004: Even chickens get a better life under new animal
laws
http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/mai...8/wanima28.xml

23 May 2004: Who killed Cock Robin? Actually, it was a garden
centre conspiracy
http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/mai...23/nbird23.xml

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