An animal welfare group, which was convened at the invitation of the Finnish Kennel Club, held a meeting this week. The meeting made plans for future action and debated the ongoing reform of the Animal Welfare Act and discussed ways to influence it.

The purpose of the animal welfare group is to discuss the reform of the Animal Welfare Act and other matters related to the proper treatment of animals and the wellbeing of dogs and cats. The group, which convened for the first time in 2012, also organises campaigns focusing on animal welfare issues.

The purpose of the reform is to bring the partly-outdated Animal Welfare Act up to the requirements of the present Constitution and to clarify animal welfare legislation.

Citizens can provide input to the drafters of the Animal Welfare Act for the entire duration of the reform project via a form posted on the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's website. The results of a stakeholder group survey as well as minutes from the meetings of the working group preparing the legislative reform are also posted on the website.

A proposal for a new Animal Welfare Act is scheduled for completion this year.

Important to satisfy the behavioural needs of animals

The working group preparing the reform says that the promotion of animal welfare as well as providing opportunities for satisfying essential behavioural needs should be the key principles of the new Animal Welfare Act. The behavioural needs of different species are showcased on the Finnish Centre for Animal Welfare's new elaintieto.fi website. The site contains information on, among other things, how animal welfare is defined and examined, the status of animals in society as well as on different species of animal (cat, dog, pig, cow and chicken).

The Finnish Centre for Animal Welfare EHK is an independent network of animal welfare specialists. Its goal is to safeguard and improve the welfare of animals. The Centre disseminates research findings on animal welfare and promotes cooperation between researchers and oversight authorities.  

Further information (in Finnish):
Overhaul of the Animal Welfare Act on the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry website – general information as well as the findings of a stakeholder group survey

Details and documents on the working group preparing the new Act

Details and documents on the steering group

Composition of the Animal Welfare Working Group in 2014:

Animal Welfare Ombudsman
Animal welfare association Animalia
Finnish Centre for Animal Welfare EHK
Helsinki Humane Society HESY
Finnish Federation for Animal Welfare Associations SEY
Finnish Veterinary Association
Finnish Kennel Club
Suomen Kissaliitto – Finnish feline association

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