Hebden Royd Town Council adopts Animal Welfare Motion
Sunday, 22 January 2017
Green Councillor's initiative improves animal welfare in Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd
Green Hebden Royd Town Councillor Elizabeth King has successfully introduced an important animal welfare motion, that the Council adopted at its first meeting in 2017.
The motion commits the Town Council to not supporting events that use animals for entertainment, with possible exceptions for events aimed at promoting the care or welfare of animals.
Cllr King said, "Animals aren't ours to use for entertainment and this new policy will help to improve animal welfare in Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd"
The full motion is "Many animals are exhibited or forced to perform tricks, are transported across the country in cramped trucks and are typically kept in unsuitable conditions. Recognising the evidence from studies which show that animals in captivity have a poorer quality of life than their wild counterparts, often exhibiting abnormal behaviour brought on by a lack of freedom and disruption of their normal social interactions, this council does not support financially, or otherwise, any events that use animals for entertainment. Exceptions to this may be made where events are specifically aimed at promoting the care or welfare of animals."
Jenny Shepherd, Calderdale Green Party Campaigns Officer, said. "Calderdale Green Party are very pleased that Hebden Royd Town Council has taken this step towards better animal welfare in the area, and we appreciate Cllr King's work."