"Look after your animals" plea

The Rotherham Borough Council team has a legal duty to ensure the welfare of animals and the RSPCA offers help in emergencies.

Livestock keepers are advised to identify and source feed and water, by co-operating with neighbours in times of low supplies and poor access.

Where animals are kept outside, water troughs should be kept free of ice.

Outdoor pets like rabbits and guinea pigs should be moved to garages and sheds where possible for warmth. If cages cannot be moved additional protection or insulation should be provided.

Ice should be cleared from drinking water containers and the spouts defrosted regularly.

As with farmed livestock, horses and ponies usually kept outside during the winter should have access to shelter at all times and a regular provision of feed and water. 

Where such provision is inadequate, owners should consider moving the animals or permanently stabling during the cold.

Transporters are required by law not to transport animals in a way that is likely to cause injury or undue suffering.

So in the current conditions transporters must check their intended route is safe and clear before any journey commences.

If journeys do commence then drivers should have back up plans to care for the animals in case any problems occur.

During transport, bedding must be supplied for calves less than six months, foals under four months, piglets under 10kgs and lambs under 20kgs.

This bedding must guarantee the animals comfort in the prevailing weather conditions.

However, during freezing weather conditions, bedding is likely to be appropriate for older/heavier animals too. 

For journeys over eight hours, ventilation systems on vehicles must be capable of maintaining the temperature in the animal compartment above 0 deg C.