Some views:
It
gives the government the right to slaughter any animal, including not
only cows and sheep, but family pets, horses, ponies, and even creatures
housed in zoos, if, in its view, they "pose a risk of spreading
disease". This means that if there is another foot and mouth scare,
farmers or householders will be deprived of the legal right to challenge
the killing of their animals. It is a savage and draconian piece of
legislation, far worse in its implications than the absurd Dangerous
Dogs Act of 1991, which was rushed through after the scare over pit-bull
terriers, and was found to be unworkable.
Animal owners are deprived
of any legal right to question or challenge such decisions. Indeed, they
can be ordered by officials, on pain of prosecution, to provide
assistance in any way that the officials want; so that, on paper, even
refusing to make tea for an official could be deemed a criminal offence
.
WHAT
can be done??
1.
Sign the Online Petition
here.
2.
Print off a copy/copies of the petition HERE.
Collect as many signatures as you can. There are two ways you
could do it.
2.a
Collect signatures in your constituency only. Send the completed
petition to YOUR MP - asking him to oppose the Bill and proving to him,
with your petition, just how many of HIS constituents (voters!) oppose
it (please send us a copy so the total can be added to the main
petition.)
2.b
Just collect as many signatures as you can, anywhere you can and send
the completed petitions to us as soon as possible.
3.
Write to your MP - expressing your concerns about the Bill and asking
him to oppose it when it comes before the House of Commons. PLEASE
send us a copy of any replies and we will publish a list of MPs who will
oppose or support the Bill (should stop them wriggling out later!)
4.
Alert everyone you know who owns animals to the dangers of this
draconian piece of legislation - and write a letter to your local paper.
|