Animal welfare and animal diseases

Reports regarding animal welfare should be made via email to the supervising veterinary officer or by telephone. The report must include the following details: the exact address of the location (including the municipality), the name and telephone number of the location (if known) and a brief description of the situation. Emails are checked on weekdays during office hours.

In an emergency outside office hours, please report animal welfare conce s to the on-call vet or the police on 112.

Animal welfare authorities are bound by a duty of confidentiality and will treat your contact details as confidential; they will not disclose them to the subject of the report.

Barking dogs or similar issues that cause a nuisance to neighbours are not matters of animal welfare, and the Animal Welfare Act does not apply in such cases. In the event of a disturbance, you should first try to resolve the matter yourself with the person causing the disturbance or the housing association. The Public Order Act is enforced by the police.

The purpose of the Animal Welfare Act is to protect animals as effectively as possible from suffering, pain and distress. The Act aims to promote animal welfare and the proper treatment of animals. Animals must be treated well, and no unnecessary suffering must be caused to them. Furthermore, animal husbandry must promote the maintenance of animal health and take into account the animals’ physiological and behavioural needs.

Veterinary Inspector, Keuruuntie 22 A 2, 42700 Keuruu, tel. 040 170 6433, valvontaelainlaakari(at)keuruu.fi