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
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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
8 results
Clear
4 Conclusion Deferred
Second Report - Pet welfare and ab…
Introduce lower dog breeding litter threshold and publicly available licensed seller list.
The litter licensing threshold for dog breeding should be reduced from three to two per 12-month period. A list of all licensed sellers should be publicly available, which would allow for verification and provide assurance to buyers. Care should be … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts, stating that health and welfare of commercially bred cats are already protected. It has commissioned a review and requested views on cat breeding regulation, and will consider further steps only after these reports are published.
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6 Conclusion Deferred
Second Report - Pet welfare and ab…
Extend LAIA legislative safeguards and regulations to cover cat breeding activities.
There are currently few legal safeguards to protect cats and their kittens, as cat breeding is not a licensable activity. Cat breeding should be awarded the same legislative safeguards and regulations as dog breeding under LAIA regulations. (Paragraph 31) Pet … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts the recommendation but deflects by stating that updating the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 is a significant undertaking for which parliamentary time has not yet been set aside, without addressing cat breeding under LAIA regulations.
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8 Conclusion Deferred
Second Report - Pet welfare and ab…
Rapid rise in unregulated Canine Fertility Clinics raises significant welfare and enforcement concerns.
The rise in Canine Fertility Clinics, from 37 in 2020 to over 400 in 2023, is of significant concern. Many are likely being operated without veterinary involvement, with invasive procedures classed as acts of veterinary surgery being performed unlawfully by … Read more
Government Response
The government shares concerns about designer pets but deflects from the specific issue of Canine Fertility Clinics. Instead, it details existing relationships with canine/feline sectors, online advice, and public messaging campaigns like Petfished, which focus on general pet welfare and brachycephalic breeds.
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9 Recommendation Deferred
Second Report - Pet welfare and ab…
Introduce new Veterinary Surgeons Act to update outdated 1966 legislation.
The Government should introduce a new Veterinary Surgeons Act to update that of
Government Response
The government partially accepts but discusses the potential unintended consequences of reducing dog breeding litter thresholds. It states it is considering the impacts in a post-implementation review of the LAIA Regulations and has commissioned an AWC opinion, after which it will consider regulatory options.
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11 Recommendation Deferred
Second Report - Pet welfare and ab…
Introduce public campaign raising awareness of designer pet welfare issues and harms.
The Government should work with the sector to formulate and introduce a public information campaign to raise awareness around welfare issues and harms of so- called ‘designer’ pets, particularly brachycephalic breeds, with the aim of discouraging acquisition of these breeds. Read more
Government Response
The government shares concerns about non-exempt mutilations but deflects from the recommendation for a public information campaign. Instead, it highlights that ear cropping is already an offence under existing legislation with tougher penalties, and that advertising standards prohibit such ads.
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12 Conclusion Deferred
Second Report - Pet welfare and ab…
Bring stud dogs under Licensing of Activities Involving Animals regulations for welfare.
Stud dogs should be brought within Licensing of Activities Involving Animals regulations. The inclusion of stud dogs would help give traceability and ensure welfare measures apply to male dogs kept for breeding, who otherwise fall outside the scope of the … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts the need for consistency in enforcement but deflects from including stud dogs in LAIA regulations. It instead details existing requirements for suitably qualified local authority inspectors and Defra's work to share best practice and provide training for enforcement.
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14 Recommendation Deferred
Second Report - Pet welfare and ab…
Legislate to restrict possession, sale, and supply of DIY ear cropping kits.
It is all too easy to purchase DIY ear cropping kits online. This allows unscrupulous individuals to carry out this act of mutilation. Alongside closing the importation loophole, the Government should legislate to restrict the possession, hosting, sale and supply … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts the concern but deflects from legislating on DIY ear cropping kits. Instead, it announces support for the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill, which will provide powers to prohibit the import of puppies, heavily pregnant animals, and those with non-exempted mutilations.
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18 Conclusion Deferred
Second Report - Pet welfare and ab…
Assess existing kennel space for seized dogs and implement measures to increase capacity.
The Department should work with local authorities to assess the adequacy of existing kennel space capacity for seized dogs and implement measures to increase capacity if needed. (Paragraph 73) Pet importation — incidence and smuggling
Government Response
The government acknowledged the concern about kennel capacity but stated it has no current plans to change border enforcement arrangements, instead detailing its existing robust pet travel checking regimes and collaboration with enforcement agencies.
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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