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Select Committee · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

Pet welfare and abuse

Status: Closed Opened: 3 Feb 2023 Closed: 23 May 2024 16 recommendations 12 conclusions 1 report

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.

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Second Report - Pet welfare and abuse HC 161 5 Apr 2024 28 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

3 items
2 Recommendation Second Report - Pet welfare and abuse Acknowledged

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 AI summary
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 …
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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
13 Recommendation Second Report - Pet welfare and abuse Acknowledged

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. This legislation should be introduced as a matter of urgency, … Read more

Government response AI summary
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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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
19 Conclusion Second Report - Pet welfare and abuse Acknowledged

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 bringing them forward. It is welcome that the Government is … Read more

Government response AI summary
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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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Oral evidence sessions

5 sessions
Date Witnesses
28 Nov 2023 Marc Casale · Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, The Rt Hon Lord Benyon · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs View ↗
18 Oct 2023 David Martin · Featured Artists Coalition, Dr Lawrence Newport · Royal Holloway University of London, Dr Samantha Gaines · RSPCA, James McNally · Slee Blackwell Solicitors View ↗
17 Oct 2023 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 View ↗
5 Sep 2023 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 View ↗
4 Jul 2023 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 View ↗

Who gave evidence

25 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Dr Samantha Gaines · Head of Companion Animals RSPCA 2
Alexandra Baker · Chief Operating Officer Pet Industry Federation 1
Becky Thwaites · Head of Public Affairs Blue Cross 1
Bill Lambert · Health Welfare and Breeder Services Executive The Kennel Club 1
David Holdsworth · Chief Executive Animal and Plant Health Agency 1
David Martin · Chief Executive Featured Artists Coalition 1
Dr Gudrun Ravetz · Chief Veterinary Officer Pets at Home 1
Dr Justine Shotton · Senior Vice President British Veterinary Association 1
Dr Lawrence Newport · Lecturer in Law Royal Holloway University of London 1
Dr Maggie Roberts · Director of Feline Welfare Cats Protection 1
Dr Melisa Donald · Council Member Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons 1
Dr Paula Boyden · Veterinary Director Dogs Trust 1
Dr Sean Wensley · Senior Veterinary Surgeon for Animal Welfare and … PDSA 1
Gavin Stedman · Director Port Health & Public Protection Heathrow Animal Reception Centre 1
James McNally · Partner Slee Blackwell Solicitors 1
Jessica Stark · Director of Communications & Public Affairs World Horse Welfare 1
John Keefe · Chief Corporate and Public Affairs Officer Getlink (Eurotunnel) 1
Marc Casale · Deputy Director for Animal Welfare Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs 1
Marisa Heath · Adviser Local Government and Animal Welfare Group 1
Nicola Hirst · Director for Service Delivery Animal and Plant Health Agency 1
Pip Griffin · Senior Dog Warden Worcestershire Regulatory Services 1
Sarah Carr · CEO Naturewatch Foundation 1
Steve Lawrie · Port Operations Manager, Group Pet Travel Coordin… Brittany Ferries 1
The Rt Hon Lord Benyon · Minister of State Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 1
Tim Reardon · Head of EU Exit and Company Secretary Port of Dover 1

Correspondence

5 letters
DateDirectionTitle
30 Apr 2024 — Correspondence from Lord Benyon regarding corrections to the Pet welfare and ab…
25 Apr 2024 — Lord Douglas-Miller, Minister for Biosecurity, Animal Health and Welfare, regar…
14 Dec 2023 — Correspondence to Rt Hon Lord Benyon MP regarding the Government’s ban on XL Bu…
18 Oct 2023 — Correspondence from the Chief Veterinary Officer of Pets at Home following her …
29 Mar 2023 To cttee Letter from the Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries to the Committee rega…