Registration of animals

SIR, - In the consultations leading up to a new Animal Welfare Bill, ministers have repeatedly stated that the keeping of animals is a privilege and not a right and so the new Bill rightly imposes a duty of care on all animal keepers. [...]is it not reasonable to propose that part of that duty of care should involve registration with an approved veterinary practice, or in the absence of such, with the local Animal Health Divisional Office of the State Veterinary Service ( SVS )?