Animal Welfare Strategy

The government’s new strategy is a comprehensive package of reforms which will protect and improve the lives of our pets, farmed and wild animals.

Over half the adult population own pets and they play a significant role in many lives. The introduction of this new strategy will protect our pets with the crackdown on puppy farming and introduction of a single-registration system for all breeders, linked to licensing, to improve traceability. As well as this, the government has also banned puppy smuggling with a limit to 5 pets per vehicle in non-commercial travel as well as a complete ban on the import of dogs and cats that are under 6 months or heavily pregnant. The government is also planning to tackle electric shock collars due to the possible harm to our pets – these have already been banned in Wales.

In terms of farm animals, Britain risks falling behind other European nations when comparing farm animals’ welfare standards, which is why this government has committed to phasing out the use of colony cages for laying hens and farrowing crates for pigs. These cages severely restrict the natural movement and behaviours of the animals and so must be banned in the respective industries. As well as this, the government is further looking to legislate to address issues of CO2 for stunning pigs and the issues surrounding the humane killing of fish.

Wild animals are also protected by the animal welfare strategy. More than 20 years after the 2004 Hunting Act, concerns remain about illegal hunting disguised as trail hunting. This is why we are fulfilling our manifesto commitment to ban trail hunting to legislate against hunting techniques that did not exist when the Hunting Act was enacted. Additionally, I support the government’s commitment to ban snare traps which leave animals for extended periods without food or water as well as a commitment to a close season for hares to avoid young hares being left motherless and starving. The government has also made a commitment to review and strengthen penalties for cruelty against wildlife.