Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me about animal welfare.
I’m proud to welcome the Government’s new Animal Welfare Strategy – a landmark step that reflects the values of our community. These reforms will protect pets, farm animals, and wildlife, ending cruel practices and ensuring the high standards of care that local people expect.
The Animal Welfare Strategy sets out how the government will deliver improved welfare for companion animals by:
- Reforming dog breeding practices to improve health and welfare, preventing animals from becoming unwell and ending puppy farming
- Consulting on a ban on the use of electric shock collars due to the possible harm to our pets
- Considering the introduction of new licenses for domestic rescue and rehoming organisations to ensure rescues have the right checks in place
Improved welfare for farmed animals by:
- Moving away from confinement systems such as colony cages for laying hens and the use of pig farrowing crates
- Addressing the welfare issues that arise from the use of carbon dioxide to stun pigs because of animal welfare concerns
- Introducing humane slaughter requirements for farmed fish to spare them avoidable pain
Protection for wild animals by:
- Banning trail hunting amidst concerns it is being used as a smokescreen for hunting
- Banning snare traps because they cause suffering to animals and can catch pets
- Introducing a close season for hares which should reduce the number of adult hares being shot in the breeding season, meaning that fewer young hares are left motherless and vulnerable to starvation and predation
The Animal Welfare Strategy builds on this government’s proven track record in delivering reforms for animals. This includes introducing new, world-leading standards for zoos earlier this year and supporting passage of the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act 2025 and the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill.