Animal Health and Welfare

Moray Council Environmental Health Section has duties for carrying out functions specified in the Animal Health Act 1981, and associated legislation, in relation to animal health and welfare.

For further information on these roles and contact details please see below:

Main Functions of the Animal Health and Welfare Team

Assess animal welfare standards by: tracing livestock movements looking for the signs of and to prevent the spread of disease, to trace livestock movements, check livestock, and the welfare standards during transit and check associated paperwork.

Provide guidance at farm and livestock holdings and check livestock records, veterinary medicine records, check movement licences and animal passports for livestock identification, advice on disposal of fallen stock, check livestock vehicle construction and cleanliness. For further information please refer to our Animal Movements page.

To follow up complaints received on animal health and welfare issues, assist in local and national contingency plans to prevent the spread of diseases such as Anthrax, Foot and Mouth and Rabies.

To undertake inspections of premises that are subject to licence conditions including: pet shops, animal boarding establishments (catteries and kennels), riding establishments, dog breeding, home boarding and the investigation and issue of licenses for performing animals, zoo licensing and dangerous wild animals . For further information please go to our Animal Health Licensing page.

Animal Welfare Officers also have responsibility for dog control, pest control and seagull and other wild bird complaints. For further information please follow the relevant link below:

• Dogs and other pets
• Pests and wild animals
• Animal health licensing