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The purpose of this Written Statement is to provide an update for Members on the Welsh Government’s policy to drive forward welfare for dogs and their responsible ownership in Wales.  


This work has a number of elements including introduction of regulations in Wales for the licensing of dog breeding premises and the micro\-chipping of dogs – separate statements will be released outlining progress on these matters.


In May this year I confirmed that I would  work with UK Government Ministers to bring forward provisions in the Anti\-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill (the UK Bill) to implement some of our policies relating to welfare of dogs and their responsible ownership. In so doing I committed to suspending work on the Control of Dogs (Wales) Bill, while I discussed the detail of the provisions in the UK Bill with the UK Government.  I have since met with both Jeremy Brown, Minister of State for Crime Prevention and Lord De Mauley, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Science, on a number of occasions to discuss Wales’ position in relation to the legislation.   Additionally my officials continue to work closely with their colleagues in the Home Office and Defra.


Whilst it was a difficult decision to suspend the Control of Dogs (Wales) Bill  the evidence was compelling that the UK Bill could be shaped to include many, if not nearly all, elements of improvement we were hoping to achieve via that legislation. I still retain the right to bring forward the Control of Dogs (Wales) Bill and/or to introduce secondary legislation should the UK Bill not deliver what we require to take forward the dog welfare policies we support for Wales. However, at present, we are content with progress on the UK Bill, following close co\-operation between us and the UK Government on the dog\-related aspects of the UK Bill.


Policy work undertaken in Wales helped inform the changes to the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (DDA) (contained within the Bill) to make an attack on assistance dogs an offence, sadly a recent case in Wales highlights the need for such a law to exist.  


Defra also consulted in England and Wales on the sentencing regime associated with the DDA and the Bill has now been amended to reflect a much more severe fine and sentencing regime.  


I acknowledge the concerns regarding the lack of reference to a “dog control notice” in the UK Bill but the concept of a Community Protection Notice can and will apply to out of control and dangerously out of control dogs.   It can also apply to owners of dogs who are not acting responsibly but the key to success will be how the tools are utilised by enforcement practitioners.  To assist in this process it has been agreed that separate guidance for use by practitioners and enforcers be developed and the first draft of that guidance is on the following website:


https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tackling\-irresponsible\-dog\-ownership\-draft\-practitioners\-manual


Whilst Defra is the lead on the guidance Welsh Government officials continue to take a pro\-active approach in shaping it and are working closely with local authorities, police and key stakeholders where relevant.  


The progress being made on the UK Bill is at a steady pace and dictated by Parliamentary timeframes but the Welsh Government continues to emphasise that the owners’ role and responsibility is key to the welfare of the animal being maintained and improved.   Early intervention and behaviour change is an essential element.  


Owning a dog is a personal choice – meeting the welfare needs of that animal is already a statutory requirement.   The work that both the Welsh Government and the UK Government are undertaking will support the future enforcement of that requirement.


This statement is being issued during recess in order to keep members informed.  Should members wish me to make a further statement or to answer questions on this when the Assembly returns I would be happy to do so.


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 







Translation:


 
Pwrpas y Datganiad Ysgrifenedig hwn yw nodi’r diweddaraf ynghylch yr hyn y mae Llywodraeth Cymru’n ei wneud i wella lles cŵn ac annog eu perchnogion yng Nghymru i fod yn berchnogion cyfrifol.

Mae nifer o ffrydiau yn perthyn i’r gwaith hwn gan gynnwys cyflwyno rheoliadau yng Nghymru ar gyfer trwyddedu safleoedd bridio cŵn a rhoi microsglodion ar gŵn – byddaf yn cyhoeddi datganiadau ar wahân am y rheini.

Ym mis Mai eleni, dywedais y byddwn yn gweithio gyda Gweinidogion Llywodraeth y DU i sicrhau bod rhai o’n polisïau ar les cŵn a’u perchnogion yn cael eu hymgorffori yn y Bil Ymddygiad Gwrthgymdeithasol, Troseddau a Phlismona (Bil y DU).  Yn y cyfamser, ymrwymais i atal unrhyw waith ar Fil Rheoli Cŵn (Cymru) wrth i ni drafod manylion Bil y DU gyda Llywodraeth y DU.  Ers hynny, rwyf wedi cyfarfod â Jeremy Brown, y Gweinidog Gwladol dros Atal Troseddau  a’r Arglwydd De Mauley, yr Is\-ysgrifennydd Gwladol Seneddol dros yr Amgylchedd Naturiol a Gwyddoniaeth, nifer o weithiau i drafod sefyllfa Cymru o ran y ddeddfwriaeth.  Mae fy swyddogion hefyd yn parhau i gydweithio’n glos â’u cydweithwyr yn y Swyddfa Gartref ac yn Defra.

Roedd y penderfyniad i atal Bil Rheoli Cŵn (Cymru) yn un anodd, ond dadleuwyd yn gryf y byddai Bil y DU yn gallu cynnwys bron yr holl welliannau, os nad bob un, yr oeddem am eu gweld.  Rwyf am gadw’r hawl i atgyfodi Bil Rheoli Cŵn (Cymru) a/neu gyflwyno is\-ddeddfwriaeth pe na bai Bil y DU yn rhoi i ni’r hyn sydd ei angen i roi ein polisïau lles cŵn ar waith. Fodd bynnag, ar hyn o bryd, rydyn ni’n hapus â Bil y DU, hynny yn sgil y cydweithredu rhyngom ni a Llywodraeth y DU ar agweddau ym Mil y DU sy’n ymwneud â chŵn.

Cafodd gwaith polisi ei wneud yng Nghymru i sbarduno newid Deddf Cŵn Peryglus 1991 (sydd wedi’u cynnwys yn y Bil) i wneud ymosodiad ar gi cymorth yn drosedd.  Mewn achos diweddar, profwyd gwaetha’r modd bod dal angen cyfraith o’r fath.

Ymgynghorodd Defra yng Nghymru a Lloegr ar y drefn ddedfrydu sy’n gysylltiedig â’r Ddeddf Cŵn Peryglus ac mae’r Bil bellach wedi’i newid i adlewyrchu trefn dirwyo a dedfrydu llawer llymach.

Rwy’n cydnabod y pryderon ynghylch diffyg cyfeiriad at “hysbysiad rheoli cŵn” ym Mil y DU ond fe fydd y cysyniad o Hysbysiad Diogelu’r Gymuned yn cwmpasu cŵn peryglus a chŵn peryglus sydd allan o reolaeth.  Gall ymwneud hefyd â pherchnogion cŵn nad ydynt yn ymddwyn yn gyfrifol ond yr allwedd i’w lwyddiant yw sut y bydd gorfodwyr y ddeddf yn defnyddio’r cyfryngau fydd ar gael iddynt. I helpu’r broses honno, cytunwyd i baratoi arweiniad gwahanol ar gyfer ymarferwyr a gorfodwyr.  Mae drafft cynta’r arweiniad i’w weld ar y wefan ganlynol:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tackling\-irresponsible\-dog\-ownership\-draft\-practitioners\-manual

Er mai Defra sy’n paratoi’r arweiniad, mae swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru’n parhau i gyfrannu’n frwd at ei lunio ac yn gweithio’n glos ag awdurdodau lleol, yr heddlu a rhanddeiliaid allweddol yn ôl y gofyn.

Mae gwaith yn mynd rhagddo’n bwyllog â Bil y DU yn unol ag amserlenni’r Senedd ond mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i bwysleisio mai rôl a chyfrifoldebau’r perchennog sy’n allweddol o ran cynnal a gwella lles yr anifail.  Mae ymyrraeth gynnar a newid ymddygiad yn elfennau hanfodol felly.

Mater o ddewis personol yw perchen ar gi ond mae diwallu ei anghenion lles eisoes yn ofyn statudol.  Mae’r gwaith y mae Llywodraeth Cymru a Llywodraeth y DU yn ei wneud yn helpu i roi’r gofyn hwnnw ar waith yn y dyfodol.

Caiff y datganiad ei gyhoeddi yn ystod y toriad er mwyn rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i aelodau.  Os bydd aelodau eisiau i mi wneud datganiad pellach neu ateb cwestiynau ynglŷn â hyn pan fydd y Cynulliad yn dychwelyd, byddwn yn hapus i wneud hynny.