The Animal Welfare Act allows local authorities to intervene before an animal actually suffers.

We are responsible for enforcing this legislation to prevent unnecessary suffering to farm animals and livestock, and for legislation covering the welfare of animals being transported.

The welfare of companion animals is also our responsibility as well as that of the RSPCA.

For more information about this, visit the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) website.

Please visit the up-to-date Notifiable diseases in animals produced by Defra which gives guidance on how to spot and report common animal diseases.

If you have a concern about animal diseases please contact Defra through its website or contact us on ehadmin@bedford.gov.uk