MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR ANIMAL SANCTUARIES [ S.L.439.14 1 SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 439.14 MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR ANIMAL SANCTUARIES REGULATIONS 2nd April, 2014* LEGAL NOTICE 241 of 2013. 1.
(1)The title of these regulations is the Minimum Standards for Animal Sanctuaries Regulations. Citation and scope.
(2)These regulations lay down the minimum standards for animal sanctuaries in Malta.
- For the purpose of these regulations: "the Act" means the Animal Welfare Act; Interpretation. Cap.
- "animal" means unwanted cats and dogs unless otherwise stated; "animal sanctuary" means the premises of any non-profit organisation licensed by the Director, including any private dwelling where more than five stray animals are kept and which is only licensed by the Director for that purpose; "the Director" means the Director responsible for the Veterinary Service and includes, to the extent of the authority given, any officer authorised by him, in writing, to act in that behalf for any of the purposes of the Act; "keeper" means any person hav ing the charge of, or who habitually feeds or looks after cats and dogs; licence holders of sanctuaries form part of this category; "stray animal" means a pet cat or dog which either has no owner or home or is outside the boundaries of its owner or keeper ’s household and is not under the control or direct supervision of any owner or keeper; "vo l un tary o rgan i sati o n" m ean s a fo un da ti on , a t ru st , an association of persons or a temporary organisation which is independent and autonomous and which qualifies and is enrolled under the Voluntary Organisations Act. Cap.
- 3.
(1)No person shall manage, organise, set-up or operate a sanctuary without a licence. Licensing of establishments.
(2)Any voluntary organisation or any person managing an animal sanctuary or intending to manage an animal sanctuary shall apply to the Director for a licence.
(3)An application for a licence, in the form set out in Schedule I, shall be sent to the Director at least two months before the intended opening of the sanctuary or, in the case of an existing sanctuary, at least two months before the coming into force of these regulations. This application has to be endorsed by the nominated *see regulation 1
(3)of these Regulations, as originally promulgated. 2 [ S.L.439.14 MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR ANIMAL SANCTUARIES veterinary surgeon responsible for the sanctuary who has to place his signature and rubber stamp in section 4 of the application set out in Schedule I.
(4)(
- a)The Director shall conduct an inspection of the sanctuary to determine whether the conditions of these regulations are being complied with. (
- b)If these conditions are met, the Director shall issue a licence for the activity, but otherwise the Director shall also stipulate corrective measures as necessary. The Director shall suspend or prohibit the commencement or continuation of the use of the sanctuary and thereby retrieve the licence relating to such activity.
(5)The licence or a copy of this licence shall be displayed in a prominent position on the premises.
(6)Licences are renewed annually following an inspection by the Director.
(7)Any alterations to the structure shall be declared to the Director before these alterations take place. The Director shall determine whether these alterations are acceptable or not. If accepted, the establishment shall be provided with modifications to its existing licence.
(8)The species of animals authorised to be kept in the sanctuary shall be those specified in the licence. Licensing of personnel. 4.
(1)Any person managing an animal sanctuary shall have relevant qualifications acceptable to the Director
(2)Licences shall only be issued to persons of good conduct and persons who have never been convicted of cruelty to animals under the Act or any other crime involving public order where the minimum term of imprisonment exceeds six months.
(3)The Director shall not accept any licence applications from any person under the age of eighteen and no such licence may be issued or given to such person.
(4)The licence holder is to ensure that all staff employed and volunteers working in the sanctuary have sufficient knowledge and experience of the species of animals in the sanctuary to ensure their health and welfare. Animal registers. 5.
(1)A register is to be kept of all animals in the sanctuary, with the following information: (
- a)name of person recording the animal; (
- b)date of arrival; (
- c)source (to include whether captured, transferred or delivered with full details); donated, (
- d)description of animal, including colour and sex; (
- e)health status on entry to include vaccination and neutering details, if relevant; MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR ANIMAL SANCTUARIES (
- f)[ S.L.439.14 vaccination and neutering details (if not recorded on entry); (
- g)microchip number, if relevant; (
- h)name of arrival, if relevant; (
- i)pet licence number, if relevant.
(2)On adoption or transfer of an animal to another owner or keeper, the following information shall be recorded: (
- a)date of adoption or transfer; (
- b)name, address of new owner, including the identity card number; (
- c)microchip number of the animal; (
- d)apparent health status and records of the animal.
(3)Animals leaving the establishment shall be permanently identified and shall be accompanied by a document bearing the name and address of the animal sanctuary and this document shall include: (
- a)the microchip number of the animal; (
- b)health, and if relevant, vaccination records of the animal; (
- c)name of animal, if relevant.
(4)Change of ownership on adoption or transfer of an animal is to be declared to the Director by the sanctuary within seven days.
(5)Birth and mortality records shall be maintained at all times.
(6)All records shall be kept for a minimum period of three years and shall be made available to the Director on inspection or when otherwise requested. 6.
(1)No other species other than those specified in the licence may be kept.
(2)(
- a)Animals are to be placed in isolation accommodation for at least seven days to allow owners to reclaim them or to undergo veterinary clinical examination and treatment, if relevant. (
- b)On completion of the seven days’ isolation period and if the animal is free from infectious or contagious diseases, the animal may be moved into the main accommodation.
(3)Animals which are deemed fit to enter the main accommodation are to be micro-chipped, recorded and registered with the Director.
(4)Cats which are over three months old and dogs which are over four months old are to be neutered within six weeks of admission to the sanctuary and prior to adoption. If adopted prior to neutering, the sanctuary must make arrangements with the new owner to ensure that the animal is neutered before it is six months old. Admission procedures. 3 4 [ S.L.439.14 Accommodation and equipment. MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR ANIMAL SANCTUARIES 7.
(1)Animals shall be kept at all times in accommodation suitable to their species with respect to construction, size, temperature, lighting, ventilation and cleanliness. All accommodation shall be kept in good repair.
(2)The detailed obligatory specification of animal enclosures for main and isolation accommodation are attached in Schedule II for cats and in Schedule III for dogs.
(3)Enclosures shall be constructed in a way as to prevent the escape of animals. Suitable equipment for the capture of escaped animals shall be present in the establishment.
(4)Enclosures shall be designed so that animals cannot be harmed, injured or poisoned. They must be constructed of nonporous material or be appropriately treated, in particular: (
- a)all exterior wood shall be smooth and treated against wood rot and only non-toxic products are to be used; (
- b)all internal surfaces used in the construction of walls, floors, partitions, doors and doorframes are to be durable, smooth and impervious. There shall be no projections or rough edges liable to cause injury to the animals; (
- c)fencing material shall be secure and safe.
(5)Animal enclosures shall allow for easy inspection. In the case of housing cats in cages on top of each other, the top cages shall be placed in a way that the floor of the top cage is easily visible.
(6)Enclosures must open on to secure areas to prevent the escape of animals. In the case of housing cats, access to the secure areas has to be through a double door lock.
(7)Accessories which are placed inside the animal enclosure shall be suitable for the species.
(8)During daylight hours, light shall be provided to all exercise and sleeping areas so that all parts are clearly visible. Where practicable, this should be natural light.
(9)Ventilation shall be provided to all interior areas without the formation of excessive, localised draughts in the sleeping area.
(10)Electrical circuits and electrical devices shall be kept in a manner to prevent animals from being harmed or injured.
(11)There shall be available in the sanctuary facilities for isolating ill or injured animals.
(12)A sink with a constant supply of hot water shall be provided, in addition to any wash hand basin. Housing density. 8.
(1)The maximum number of animals to be kept in the animal sanctuary shall be determined by the accommodation available and in accordance with the standards laid down in: (
- a)Schedule II for housing cats, and (
- b)Schedule III for housing dogs. MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR ANIMAL SANCTUARIES [ S.L.439.14
(2)On admission, animals shall be placed in single housing units in the isolation area. Exceptions may be made for animals captured and not showing aggressive behaviour to one another, and animals brought in together coming from the same litter with or without their mother, or having lived together in a group.
(3)Group kennelling shall be restricted to five adult dogs and twelve adult cats respectively. 9.
(1)All reasonable precautions shall be taken to prevent the outbreak and spread of diseases. No animal which is suffering from, or could reasonably be suspected of having come into contact with any other animal suffering from, any infectious or contagious disease or which is infested with parasites shall be brought into the main accommodation.
(2)Animal enclosures shall be cleaned twice daily to maintain good hygienic standards.
(3)The wearing of a collar by an animal shall be at the discretion of the keeper. Strangulation through the wearing of a collar shall be avoided.
(4)Any animal diagnosed with a zoonotic disease shall receive treatment. When treatment is not feasible, it shall be put down in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Act.
(5)Ill or injured animals shall receive appropriate care and treatment without delay.
(6)A first aid kit for animals shall be kept and stocked at all times. Advice from a veterinarian shall be sought for the contents of this kit.
(7)Equipment provided for human use shall be stored and cleaned separately from the animals’ equipment.
(8)Food and water vessels shall be provided and cleaned and disinfected after each meal. Any food residue which has been discarded shall be disposed of.
(9)Excreta and soiled bedding shall be collected and stored in impervious containers with close-fitting lids away from direct sunlight unless another means of approved disposal is present.
(10)Excreta and soiled bedding shall be removed form the sanctuary at least on a weekly basis. Such material has to be disposed of in a manner compliant with current laws.
(11)Suitable bedding shall be provided which allows the animal to be comfortable and which is capable of being easily and adequately cleaned and disinfected. Bedding material shall be checked daily and shall be maintained in a clean, parasite-free and dry condition.
(12)Animals shall have received proper treatment against external and internal parasites on the day of entry into the isolation accommodation.
(13)Animals shall be vaccinated at least seven days before adoption. The vaccination shall cover such diseases as are Health. 5 6 [ S.L.439.14 MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR ANIMAL SANCTUARIES stipulated by the veterinarian.
(14)A veterinarian shall certify that the vaccinations stipulated in sub-regulation
(13)are given; this certification shall remain in the animal sanctuary during the complete stay of the animal. The identification number of the animal shall be recorded on this certificate. On adoption, this certification shall be provided to the adopter of the animal and include the microchip number of the animal.
(15)Records of the substances used in the sanctuary for the prevention of pests, including the dates of application shall be kept. These applications shall be carried out in a manner that shall not harm or injure animals kept within the sanctuary. Food and water. 10.
(1)Facilities for the preparation and storage of food shall be provided, in a separate area from the enclosures. Animal food is to be stored in labelled closed containers of impervious material.
(2)All animals shall receive adequate amounts of food appropriate to individual needs. Clean water shall be available at all times and changed daily.
(3)Food shall not be kept for excessive periods in the enclosure in order to prevent odour and vermin. Inspections. 11.
(1)Animals shall be inspected at regular intervals by the staff and at least twice a day.
(2)(
- a)A fit and proper person shall always be present to supervise the animals and deal with emergencies whenever animals are present in the animal sanctuary. (
- b)If twenty-four hour supervision cannot be guaranteed, alternative procedures shall be put in place to the satisfaction of the Director.
(3)Each enclosure shall be clearly marked and information on the occupying animals clearly displayed to include: (
- a)name, breed and approximate age of animal; (
- b)date of arrival; (
- c)health condition requirements; and, if relevant, medication (
- d)microchip number / ID were applicable. Emergency precautions. 12.
(1)Suitable emergency precautions and written procedures shall exist and be made known to all the staff, including arrangements for the evacuation of animals.
(2)Entrances and exits shall be left clear of obstructions at all times.
(3)Suitable fire fighting equipment shall be available, maintained and regularly serviced by a competent person, such equipment shall be and sited as directed by specific regulations on this matter.
(4)Emergency telephone numbers for civil protection agencies MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR ANIMAL SANCTUARIES [ S.L.439.14 and veterinarians are to be displayed at the entrance to the sanctuary and in the reception area. 7 [ S.L.439.14 8 MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR ANIMAL SANCTUARIES Schedule I Regulation 3
(3)Application for Licence for Animal Sanctuaries for Cats and Dogs Application form should be completed in a legible and clear manner. An original copy of the lay-out of the animal sanctuary shall be attached. The data in this application will be in the public domain. The application and the required documents are to be sent to: The Director, Veterinary Regulation, Fisheries Conservation and Control Division, Abattoir Square, Albertown Marsa, MRS 1123. 1. Animal sanctuary details Name of animal sanctuary: Address: Phone Number: MEPA Ref No: 2. ............................................................... ............................................................... ............................................................... ............................................................... ............................................................... ............................................................... Sanctuary’s Manager details - Licence holder Surname: Name: Address: Phone / Mobile Number: ID Number: Date of Birth: Qualifications / Experience: ............................................................... ............................................................... ............................................................... ............................................................... ............................................................... ............................................................... ............................................................... ............................................................... ............................................................... Staff (
- i)Responsible person for day to day care of the animals Surname: Name: Address: Phone / Mobile Number: ID Number: Date of Birth: Qualifications / Experience: ............................................................... ............................................................... ............................................................... ............................................................... ............................................................... ............................................................... ............................................................... ............................................................... ............................................................... (
- ii)Other Staff (to be completed for each member of staff both employed and voluntary) Surname: Name: ............................................................... ............................................................... MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR ANIMAL SANCTUARIES Address: Phone / Mobile Number: ID Number: Date of Birth: Qualifications / Experience: Employed (tick as necessary) Surname: Name: Address: Phone / Mobile Number: ID Number: Date of Birth: Qualifications / Experience: Employed (tick as necessary) 3. [ S.L.439.14 9 ............................................................... ............................................................... ............................................................... ............................................................... ............................................................... ............................................................... ............................................................... Voluntary ............................................................... ............................................................... ............................................................... ............................................................... ............................................................... ............................................................... ............................................................... ............................................................... ............................................................... Voluntary Veterinary surgeon responsible for the sanctuary Surname: Name Address: ............................................................... ............................................................... ............................................................... ............................................................... ............................................................... Phone / Mobile Number: ............................................................... Warrant Number: ............................................................... Signature, and Rubber stamp of ............................................................... Warranted Veterinarian: 5. Animals Species and number of animals which are intended to be accommodated on the premises Species of Animals Number of Animals 10 6. [ S.L.439.14 MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR ANIMAL SANCTUARIES Emergency facilities / procedures Fire equipment available: .......................................................... .......................................................... .......................................................... .......................................................... Description of emergency procedures .......................................................... .......................................................... .......................................................... .......................................................... I / we do hereby certify that to the best of my / our knowledge and belief, the above particulars are true. Dated this ................................... day of ........................,20.......... (Signed) .................................... The completion of an application form will be followed by a visit from the Director or an authorised representative to inspect the premises prior to a licence being granted. Schedule II Regulations 7
(2)and 8
(1)Cat Enclosure Specifications Enclosure general
(1)Each enclosure in the main accommodation and isolation area shall have a sleeping area and an adjoining exercise area, which is exclusive to that enclosure.
(2)There shall be a gap of at least 0.65 metres or a full height sneeze barrier between individual enclosures.
(3)Enclosures shall have a minimum internal height of 2m to allow access by staff for cleaning.
(4)The enclosure shall contain a litter tray, which must be cleaned daily. The number of trays and the frequency of cleaning should be determined by the number of cats in that area.
(5)Enclosure floors shall allow for a fall of 0.5 to 1 in 80 to a shallow drainage MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR ANIMAL SANCTUARIES [ S.L.439.14 11 or a covered deep drainage channel. The floors are to be constructed in such a way to be easily cleaned while providing sufficient grip for the cats to walk and run without sustaining injury.
(6)Enclosures shall open on to secure corridors or other secure areas so that cats are not able to escape from the premises.
(7)Where galvanized mesh is used for the construction of enclosures the wire diameter shall not be less than 1.60 mm excluding any covering and mesh size must not exceed 2.5 cm per side.
(8)All areas to which cats have free access shall be solid roofed.
(9)Enclosures are to be provided with scratching poles.
(10)All entrance doors shall be lockable. Sleeping area
(11)The sleeping area is to be at least 0.85 sq m per cat plus 0.2 sq m per additional cat.
(12)The height of the sleeping area shall be at least 0.91m in existing and 1.22m in newly built sanctuaries.
(13)The sleeping area shall contain a cat flap to permit easy access to the exercise area and to prevent heat loss in cold weather. In catteries with stacked sleeping areas a ramp has to be provided to allow easy access to the exercise area.
(14)The temperature of sleeping areas shall not fall below 10°C or exceed 30°C. A device to read the temperature at any time shall be provided in each enclosure. When temperatures are likely to drop below or rise above the indicated levels, some means of heating and/or cooling respectively is to be provided. Exercise area
(15)The exercise area has to have a floor area of at least 1.7 sq m for a single cat; plus 0.5 sq m per additional cat.
(16)Exercise areas shall not be used as sleeping areas.
(17)Communal exercise areas other than exercise areas in group housing are not permitted. Where they do exist, they are to be phased out as an immediate priority by the entry into force of these regulations. Schedule III Regulations 7
(2)and 8
(1)Dog Enclosure Specifications Enclosure general
(1)Each enclosure in the main accommodation and isolation area shall be provided with a sleeping area of at least 1.9 sq m and an exercise area of at least: (a) 2.46 sq m for dogs up to 61 cm high at shoulder, or (b) 3.34 sq m for larger dogs.
(2)When dogs are sharing the enclosure, the minimum surface area should be 12 [ S.L.439.14 MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR ANIMAL SANCTUARIES calculated as follows: Withers height dog Minimum floor surface Minimum length of shortest side < 30 cm 30 - 50 cm > 50 cm (1+N) x 1,0 m 2 (1+N) x 1,2 m 2 (1+N) x 1,5 m 2 1.0 m 1.2 m 1.2 m Minimum height of enclosure 2m 2m 2m
(3)Enclosures must have a minimum height of 2m to facilitate adequate access by kennel staff for cleaning. Enclosures must open onto secure corridors or other secure areas so that dogs are not able to escape from the premises.
(4)Partition walls between enclosures must be of solid construction to a minimum height of 1.2 m.
(5)Enclosure floors shall allow for a fall of 0.5 to 1 in 80 to a shallow drainage or a covered deep drainage channel. The floors are to be constructed in such a way to be easily cleaned, while providing sufficient grip for the dogs to walk and run without sustaining injury. Sleeping area
(6)The temperature of sleeping areas shall not fall below 10°C or exceed 30°C. A device to read the temperature at any time shall be provided in each enclosure. When temperatures are likely to drop below or rise above the indicated levels, some means of heating and/or cooling respectively is to be provided. Exercise area
(7)The exercise area is to be separate from the sleeping area and exclusive to that kennel for free use by the dog/s at all times except at night. It shall not be used as a sleeping area.
(8)The exercise area should be solid roofed to a minimum of half the area, sufficient to give the dog protection against the weather.
(9)In adverse weather conditions the person responsible shall decide whether dogs are to be given free access to their exercise area.