Looking after your pet

Cat welfare Pet ownership is a commitment that should be considered carefully. Before you purchase a dog or a cat you should consider the responsibility it entails, ensuring you can meet the animal’s needs which can be quite costly.

A dog's basic needs include:

  • identification (micro chipping and collar and identification tag)
  • housing
  • nutrition (a healthy balanced diet)
  • obedience training
  • exercise and playbathing and grooming routine
  • vet visits
  • vaccination
  • worming/flea/tick control
  • holiday boarding arrangements

 Remember - always have a poop scoop or plastic bag ready when you walk your dog.

A cat's basic needs include:

  • identification (micro chipping)
  • housing
  • nutrition (high protein/high fat diet)
  • worming/flea/tick control
  • grooming
  • routine vet visits
  • holiday boarding arrangements

The Animal Welfare Act 2006 requires anyone who is responsible for a pet to do what is reasonable to meet their welfare needs. The penalty for failing to care for a pet could be a fine or even a prison sentence.

Pet Codes of Practice provide owners and keepers with information on how to meet the welfare needs of their animals, as required under the act. They can also be used in courts as evidence in cases brought before them relating to poor welfare. The codes apply to England only.

Farm animals and livestock

Nottinghamshire County Council’s Trading Standards section has a team which works to safeguard the health and welfare of farm animals and livestock, protecting and improving livestock and controlling and eradicating disease.

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