Source · Select Committees · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Recommendation 15
15
Rejected
Paragraph: 70
Local authority funding and capacity issues hinder animal welfare enforcement, causing euthanasia of seized dogs.
Conclusion
The financial situation faced by local authorities is affecting their ability to undertake activities including inspections, kennelling, investigations and enforcement. At the same time, the number of dogs from low welfare or illegal breeding establishments seized via local authority enforcement activities is resulting in capacity issues. Some local authorities struggle to execute warrants as there are insufficient kennel spaces for seized dogs. Sadly, some local authorities are being forced to put dogs to sleep because of lack of capacity and funding.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government stated it would not seek to make changes regarding local authority funding and capacity for seized dogs at this time, instead focusing its response on existing biosecurity measures and disease risk monitoring.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
70
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government · verbatim extract
Rejected
The Government partially accepts the Committee’s recommendation. We continue to maintain close relationships with the kennelling sector through our relationships with sector groups such as the Canine and Feline Sector Group which includes representatives from the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes and Local Government Animal Welfare Group, and individual trade associations such as the UK Alliance of Catteries and Kennels. We also maintain close relationships with key representatives from English Police forces who also have powers of seizure. We use these relationships to inform our policy, including potential changes to the LAIA Regulations which regulate commercial kennels.
Read the full response on Parliament ↗