Pet welfare and abuse

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 3 Feb 2023 Closed: 23 May 2024 Parliament page
This inquiry is considering the post-pandemic health and welfare concerns of companion animals, including abuse and mutilation. Read the call for evidence Our call for evidence closed on 14 April 2023.
16 Recommendations
12 Conclusions
1 Report
5 Oral sessions
5 Letters
5 Events
Activity timeline 17 events
20 Dec
2024
Report published
30 Apr
2024
Correspondence
25 Apr
2024
Correspondence
5 Apr
2024
Report published
14 Dec
2023
Correspondence
28 Nov
2023
Oral evidence
28 Nov
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
18 Oct
2023
Oral evidence
18 Oct
2023
Correspondence
18 Oct
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
17 Oct
2023
Oral evidence
17 Oct
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 5 sessions
28 Nov 2023
View on parliament.uk
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Marc Casale · Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs The Rt Hon Lord Benyon · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
18 Oct 2023
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Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee
David Martin · Featured Artists Coalition Dr Lawrence Newport · Royal Holloway University of London Dr Samantha Gaines · RSPCA James McNally · Slee Blackwell Solicitors
17 Oct 2023
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Environment, food and Rural Affairs; Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee
David Holdsworth · Animal and Plant Health Agency Gavin Stedman · Heathrow Animal Reception Centre John Keefe · Getlink (Eurotunnel) Nicola Hirst · Animal and Plant Health Agency Steve Lawrie · Brittany Ferries Tim Reardon · Port of Dover
5 Sep 2023
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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Oral evidence
Alexandra Baker · Pet Industry Federation Bill Lambert · The Kennel Club Dr Gudrun Ravetz · Pets at Home Dr Samantha Gaines · RSPCA Marisa Heath · Local Government and Animal Welfare Group Pip Griffin · Worcestershire Regulatory Services
4 Jul 2023
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Oral evidence
Becky Thwaites · Blue Cross Dr Justine Shotton · British Veterinary Association Dr Maggie Roberts · Cats Protection Dr Melisa Donald · Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Dr Paula Boyden · Dogs Trust Dr Sean Wensley · PDSA Jessica Stark · World Horse Welfare Sarah Carr · Naturewatch Foundation
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Second Report - Pet welfare and abuse HC 161 5 Apr 2024 28 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
3 results
Clear
20 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Second Report - Pet welfare and ab…
Implement specific measures limiting pet imports and banning puppies, kittens, and late-term pregnant animals.
As soon as possible, and certainly by the end of the current Parliament, the Government must ensure the following measures are implemented: • A limit on the number of dogs, cats and ferrets that can be imported by an individual … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts, supporting a Private Members’ Bill that will limit pet imports per vehicle/passenger and give powers to prohibit the import of puppies and kittens under six months, heavily pregnant animals, and those with non-exempted mutilations.
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27 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Second Report - Pet welfare and ab…
Lax border controls facilitate fraudulent equine trade for European slaughterhouses.
We welcome the introduction of new legislation to ban the export of live animals, including cattle, sheep and horses, for slaughter and fattening. There is a low risk and high reward element to the equine trade, with unscrupulous individuals taking … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges concerns and partially accepts the recommendation. While progress on a digitized equine identification system is delayed due to financial pressures, the government has banned the export of livestock and horses for slaughter from Great Britain and is working with industry to prevent horses being exported for slaughter, aiming for an evidence based option in early 2025.
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28 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Second Report - Pet welfare and ab…
Implement enhanced digital equine identification measures to prevent trafficking of horses for slaughter.
Alongside the ongoing Animal Welfare (Live Exports) Bill, stronger control measures are needed to prevent the trafficking of horses for slaughter. By the end of the current Parliament, the Government should ensure it has implemented measures to enhance and support … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts the recommendation to enhance digital equine identification. Due to public finance pressures, it is currently unable to progress with the delivery of a digitised system but is considering interim measures to improve the current regime.
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Government Response AI assessment · 28 of 16 classified
Accepted 3
Accepted in Part 3
Acknowledged 3
Deferred 8
Not Addressed 1
Rejected 10
Total 16 recs + 12 conclusions
Correspondence 5 letters
30 Apr 2024 Correspondence from Lord Benyon regarding corrections to the Pet welfare and abuse evidence session, dated 23 April 2024
Parliament page
25 Apr 2024 Lord Douglas-Miller, Minister for Biosecurity, Animal Health and Welfare, regarding the Border Target Operating Model, dated 16 April 2024
Parliament page
14 Dec 2023 Correspondence to Rt Hon Lord Benyon MP regarding the Government’s ban on XL Bully dogs, dated 14 December 2023
Parliament page
18 Oct 2023 Correspondence from the Chief Veterinary Officer of Pets at Home following her appearance before the Committee, dated 19 September 2023
Parliament page
29 Mar 2023 To committee Letter from the Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries to the Committee regarding data publication exemptions for certain Animal Health and Welfare Pathway financial assistance schemes, dated 23 March 2023
Parliament page