Renewed calls for similar steps to be taken UK-wide
A bill to tackle fly grazing in Wales was approved by assembly members in the Welsh government on December 10, triggering renewed calls for Westminster to do the same.
The Control of Horses (Wales) Bill aims to target those who deliberately fly graze their horses, by giving local authorities the power to seize, impound, return to the owner, or, as a last resort, humanely euthanise horses on land without lawful consent.
The bill was fast-tracked through the first stage of the legislative process, after being introduced by Alun Davies, Welsh minister for natural food and resources, on October 14.
While the news was welcomed by numerous UK charities, such as the Blue Cross, RSPCA and World Horse Welfare, among many others, there have been concerns that the problem of fly grazing is simply crossing the border to England.
Following the news from the Welsh government, the RSPCA again urged Westminster to take similar steps to prevent this.
David Bowles, head of public affairs said that while the charity is "delighted" about the approval of the bill, action is needed across the whole of the UK.
He explained: "What we need is better legislation and enforcement to track down irresponsible owners; education for those who leave their animals to indiscriminately breed and more flexibility for local authorities to provide us with even more help to deal with the numbers of horses left to breed, graze, suffer and often die on other peoples’ land."
The Control of Horses (Wales) Bill is expected to be submitted for Royal Assent in 2014.
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
