The UK Government is set to launch its Animal Welfare Strategy today, setting out new plans to protect treasured pets and much-loved wildlife across the country.
Legislation, regulations, and current animal welfare practices need to be reformed, as they have not kept pace with the latest evidence and have led to instances of individuals exploiting loopholes.
The Animal Welfare Strategy, launched today by the Environment Secretary, will help fix this and deliver the most ambitious welfare reforms in a generation.
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds stated: “We’re a nation of animal lovers. This government is delivering the most ambitious animal welfare strategy in a generation.
“We’ve already acted to improve zoo standards, end puppy smuggling and protect livestock from dog attacks. Now, we’re planning to ban caged hens, cruel snares, trail hunting, and curb low-welfare dog breeding.”
New laws to prevent inhumane dog breeding
These generational animal welfare reforms will end the cruel practice of puppy farming, where breeding dogs are kept in appalling conditions, often overbred, and denied proper care.
These inhumane practices often result in puppies suffering from long-term health issues.
The Strategy further enhances protections for dogs and wildlife, building on new laws that put an end to puppy smuggling.
It further enhances welfare for companion animals by:
- Consulting on a ban on the use of electric shock collars due to the possible harm to pets
- Considering the introduction of new licences for domestic rescue and rehoming organisations to ensure rescues have the right checks in place
- Promoting responsible dog ownership to protect public safety
Sonul Badiani-Hamment, FOUR PAWS UK Country Director, commented: “Improving animal welfare is not only a moral and ethical imperative, but also essential to building a healthy and prosperous nation.
“By taking action to end the use of confinement systems in farming, banning trail hunting and tackling the scourge of puppy farming, the government can significantly reduce animal suffering in the UK. The priority now must be swift action to deliver on these commitments for animals.”
Farms set to receive better protection
Farm animals in England and Wales will be better protected from dog attacks thanks to new livestock worrying laws.
Tougher penalties and greater police powers will help relieve the emotional and financial strain these attacks place on farming communities.
The Animal Welfare Strategy further supports 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
- Promoting the use of slow-growing meat chicken breeds
“Compassion in World Farming welcomes the UK Government’s new Animal Welfare Strategy as a landmark step forward in protecting farmed animals across Britain,” said Anthony Field, Head of Compassion in World Farming UK.
“By committing to phase out cages for laying hens and farrowing crates for pigs, over 7 million hens and 150,000 pigs will benefit annually.”
The UK’s leading commitments to improve animal welfare
The Animal Welfare Strategy builds on the government’s proven track record of delivering reforms for animals.
This includes introducing new, world-leading standards for zoos earlier this year and supporting the passage of the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act 2025 and the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act.
The government will now work with interested parties to deliver the strategy by the end of 2030.
