SDLP Opposition AERA Spokesperson Patsy McGlone has said that an all-island animal cruelty register is the only way to keep animals out of the hands of abusers.
He was speaking during an Assembly motion on creating a register on Tuesday.
Mr McGlone said the call should be widened out to an all-island basis.
Mid Ulster MLA Mr McGlone said:
“The SDLP has spent many years campaigning for improved animal protections in the North. In 2021, we brought forward a petition with thousands of signatures calling on the then AERA Minister to work with the Justice Minister to introduce an all-island animal cruelty register. Despite initial support, the AERA Minister later said such a register would not be possible, blaming financial and logistical issues.
“This motion has been brought forward today by the DUP today, the same party whose Minister rejected such a scheme. While I welcome the party’s support for the issue and desire to protect animals, I question the ability to do this without a register that works on an all-island basis. The cross-border nature of criminal activities such as dogfighting, badger-baiting, and illegal puppy-farming, demands it. A register restricted to the North could also allow people banned from owning animals in the North to purchase them over the border and vice-versa and without proper systems and information sharing in place it could be very easy for abusers to exploit this.
“Disappointingly the current AERA Minister has also rejected an all-island register. We also see few prosecutions when it comes to animal cruelty and abuse. A change of approach is needed, not just from the Executive, but from enforcement agencies to send a clear message that there will be no hiding place for those who mistreat animals.”