Defra announces biggest animal welfare reforms in a generation - ExBulletin

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

68% : The Animal Welfare Strategy sets out how the Government will provide: Improving pet welfare: Reform dog breeding practices to improve health and welfare, prevent animal disease and end puppy farming.
66% : Owen Sharp, CEO of Dogs Trust, said: We welcome the Government's new Animal Welfare Strategy, particularly its commitment to implement the measures set out in the recently passed Animal Welfare Bill.
64% : The Animal Welfare Strategy launched today by the Secretary of State for the Environment will help tackle this problem and deliver the most ambitious welfare reform in a generation, in line with our manifesto commitments.
64% : Animal welfare strategies are an important step towards a better life for farmed animals.
62% : The Government will launch its Animal Welfare Strategy on Monday 22 December, setting out new plans to protect the country's precious pets and much-loved wildlife.
62% : Improving animal welfare is not only a moral and ethical imperative, it is also essential to building a healthy and prosperous nation.
62% : Our new welfare tier labels have been welcomed and we hope this strategy sets the stage for a vital scheme to increase transparency and more conscious choices for shoppers in the future.
61% : This Government is implementing the most ambitious animal welfare strategy in a generation.
61% : We look forward to continuing to work with governments to give all animals the protection they deserve. SonulBadiani-Hamment, FOUR PAWS UK Country Manager, said: FOUR PAWS UK welcomes the publication of today's Animal Welfare Strategy and its promise to transform the lives of millions of animals.
61% : Michael Webb, head of policy and public affairs at Battersea, said: Battersea welcomes the Government's new animal welfare strategy.
58% : This includes introducing new world-leading standards for zoos earlier this year and supporting the passage of the Animal Welfare (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act 2025 and the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act.
58% : Anthony Field, Head of Compassion at World Farming UK, said: Compassion in World Farming welcomes the UK Government's new Animal Welfare Strategy as a groundbreaking step forward to protect farm animals across the UK.
57% : Our strategy will raise welfare standards for animals at home, on farms and in the wild.
57% : The Animal Welfare Strategy will be published on Monday 22 December.
57% : We are also pleased that the Government plans to consult on the regulation of rehabilitation centres.
56% : Claire Bass, senior director of campaigns and communications at Humane World for Animals, said: There are hundreds of millions of animals in the UK whose health and welfare depend on humans.
56% : Shoppers want higher welfare standards, and it's great to know that some of the more inhumane farming methods, such as fast-growing chickens, will make history in the UK.
55% : Thomas Schultz-Jagow, Director of Advocacy and Prevention at the RSPCA, said: The government's new animal welfare strategy is a significant step forward with the potential to improve the lives of millions of animals.
55% : Because we need a fundamental reexamination of the way we see and treat animals in this country, this strategy leads the way by demonstrating a strong commitment to animal welfare.
54% : The government's commitment to phase out farrowing crates for mother pigs is consistent with both welfare science and public opinion.
54% : We look forward to working with the Government to ensure that these commitments are effectively implemented and ultimately protect the welfare of dogs and cats.
53% : We are also pleased with the Government's commitment to improving the welfare of tens of millions of slaughterhouse pigs and fish.
51% : The government is raising the standards for farmed animal welfare.
45% : There were now plans to ban caged hens, cruel snares, trail hunting and curb the keeping of low-welfare dogs.
44% : These traps are blunt instruments of cruelty, used solely to protect millions of birds who are later shot just for fun, and have no place in a country with a progressive approach to animal welfare.
42% : We protect wildlife by: Trail hunting is banned amid concerns about it being used as a smokescreen for hunting Snares are banned because they cause pain to animals and can catch pets Introducing a closer season for hares will reduce the number of adult hares shot during the breeding season, which will reduce the number of young hares left without their mothers and vulnerable to starvation and predation The Animal Welfare Strategy builds on the Government's proven track record of delivering reform for animals.
38% : Laws, regulations and current practices need to be reformed as they do not keep pace with the latest evidence and loopholes are sometimes exploited by individuals.
34% : Promoting responsible dog ownership to protect public safety Improve the welfare of farmed animals by: Moving away from confinement systems, such as the use of pens for laying hens and farrowing crates for pigs, addressing welfare issues arising from the use of carbon dioxide to stun pigs due to animal welfare issues, introducing humane slaughter requirements for farmed fish to reduce inevitable suffering, promoting the use of slow-growing broiler chicken breeds.

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