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
2 Recommendation Acknowledged
Second Report - Pet welfare and ab…
Mandate DEFRA to enact all provisions from the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill.
In order to implement much-needed robust animal welfare safeguards, the Department must ensure that every provision from the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill is brought into force during the current Parliament. (Paragraph 8) Pet Breeding
Government Response
The government acknowledges the recommendation but states the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill fell due to the dissolution of Parliament. They confirm commitment to animal welfare by listing other passed acts and supporting new Private Members’ Bills addressing some measures from the original Kept Animals Bill.
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13 Recommendation Acknowledged
Second Report - Pet welfare and ab…
Introduce urgent legislation to close loophole allowing importation of mutilated animals.
Ear cropping, cosmetic tail docking and cat declawing are ethically abhorrent procedures which are likely to have lasting welfare implications for the animals involved. The Government must give priority to closing the loophole that enables the importation of mutilated animals. … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts, stating it maintains close relationships with the kennelling sector and police, and uses these to inform policy, including potential changes to the LAIA Regulations which regulate commercial kennels.
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19 Conclusion Acknowledged
Second Report - Pet welfare and ab…
Facilitate swift passage of Private Members' bills banning import of young puppies and pregnant dogs.
The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill proposed a series of measures including a ban on the import of young puppies and heavily pregnant dogs. These would significantly enhance protections for pets, and there is considerable sector and public support for … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepted the recommendation, stating it is considering the most effective ways to end puppy smuggling and will set out next steps, but much of the response detailed challenges and interim measures for equine identification due to funding pressures.
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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