DEFRA provided a theoretical regulatory framework for this sector but have refused to provide a solution for the real-life consequences of applying the regulations.
Does it look like anyone knew anything about this sector or writing regulations?
- There are virtually no area of regulation that was universally applicable and almost every area of regulation that required exemptions.
- Caveats were needed because no cattery or kennels was built to the same specification, out of the same materials or at the same time.
- Boarding establishments that were built and compliant under previous rules required funding or required DEFRA to address grandfather and acquired rights.
- Had DEFRA done any due diligence they’d have known that time scales for any alterations should have been written into the regulations.
- Local authorities should have known that immediate closure for any infraction was not a legitimate solution.
DEFRA are not part of the problem, they are the problem.
- None of the regulations improved animal welfare and none of the increased bureaucracy helped anyone.
- Catteries don’t traditionally employ staff because 90% of catteries are run by one or two people.
- It’s not possible to employ anyone for full days because the business doesn’t generate enough profit to cover running costs plus a day’s wages.
- Catteries are not structured like kennels because cats don’t need walking and prefer to sleep 16 hours a day.
- Since these regulations came into force, we’ve gone from being able to run the cattery with two people to needing permanent helpers … and that’s even if you could find staff who want to work in split shifts for four hours a day!
The only way to solve these problems is through autonomy, getting out from under DEFRA’s incompetent jurisdiction starting with reclassification.
- We need to write our own universal and enforceable legislation to operate an efficient and effective business.
- We need to carry out our own inspections with a view to getting everyone to adopt the best practices in our industry - not through threats or intimidation, but to improve animal welfare through the positive advice of peers who have seen dozens of operations and are aware that every individual and every difference requires a different solution.
When confronted with the data and consequences, the only legitimate response DEFRA had was an immediate suspension of inspections, automatic renewal of all licenses and a withdrawal of all regulations until the regulations could be presented in an acceptable and workable form to our industry.
All DEFRA have done is arrange pointless zoom calls where the closest DEFRA have got to admitting their incompetence is to hold a review - specifically to re-label their lack of due diligence as “unintended consequences” - Which is bureaucratic speak for doing nothing as slowly as possible.
DEFRA are missing in action and paralysed by fear because their only concern is to party through life on the public purse by not being held to account - while their incompetence and overreach is responsible for causing the loss of a third of this country’s boarding capacity, DEFRA have presided over the largest increase in unlicensed and unregulated cat and dog feeders in our country’s history … and doing nothing is their only plan.