A CASH-STRAPPED animal sanctuary in Crewe is facing an uncertain future as a new licensing law looks likely to be approved.
Alan Fairhurst, 56, who runs the Wistaston Cat Refuge in Windermere Road, is concerned that the Animal Sanctuaries Bill will put his rescue activities under more financial pressure.
The Bill will require that animal sanctuaries are licensed and regularly inspected in the wake of the Ann Stott case in Crewe, the nation's worst case of animal cruelty, in which 140 animals died at a ramshackle base on Edleston Road.
But while Mr Fairhurst feels that some form of accountability is needed, he says the new legislation will put a stranglehold on good animal sanctuaries and is calling for existing laws to be toughened up instead.
He said: 'The MP Ian Cawsey is refusing to discuss the Bill until it goes for its second reading in January. We are angry this has gone forward without any consultation with anyone other than the RSPCA.
'We will have to be licensed with our local council and the first problem with that is the cost. Secondly, who will be responsible for inspecting the premises? We are worried that these people are not knowledgeable about the animals.
'My argument is that Parliament would be better off improving the existing laws because there are too many loopholes. The Ann Stott case is a good example six weeks in prison for all those animals who died.
'We don't want another case like that, but animal welfare workers like myself feel we should have been consulted properly over this Bill.'
The RSPCA's chief veterinary officer, Chris Laurence, said: 'Licensing would introduce minimum standards and would also protect people running centres because problems would be spotted sooner and help could be given.'
The Private Member's Bill will go in for its second reading in January and, if approved, will come into effect in the summer.
