The UK government is launching its Animal Welfare Strategy on 22 December 2025, introducing the most ambitious reforms in a generation to protect pets, wildlife, and farmed animals across the country. The strategy aims to end cruel practices such as puppy farming, where dogs are overbred in poor conditions, often resulting in long-term health problems, and builds on previous measures that have outlawed puppy smuggling.
The reforms also strengthen protections for farm animals, with new livestock worrying laws to prevent dog attacks and support affected farmers through tougher penalties and increased police powers. The strategy addresses gaps in current legislation, regulations, and practices, ensuring they align with the latest evidence and close loopholes that have previously been exploited.
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds emphasized that the strategy reflects the UK’s strong commitment to raising welfare standards for animals in homes, on farms, and in the wild. Key planned measures include banning caged hens, phasing out farrowing crates for pigs, ending cruel snares and trail hunting, and improving welfare standards in dog breeding. The strategy also proposes consultations on banning electric shock collars and introducing licenses for domestic rescue and rehoming organisations.
For farmed animals, the strategy will address welfare concerns including carbon dioxide stunning of pigs, humane slaughter requirements for farmed fish, and promoting slow-growing meat chicken breeds. Wildlife protections include banning trail hunting, outlawing snare traps, and introducing a close season for hares to reduce risks to juveniles.
The Animal Welfare Strategy builds on prior government reforms, including improved zoo standards, the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act 2025, and amendments to the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act. The government plans to work with stakeholders to implement the strategy fully by 2030.
The reforms have been widely welcomed by animal welfare organisations and industry representatives. RSPCA highlighted the potential to improve the lives of millions of animals, noting the importance of ending confinement systems for hens and pigs. FOUR PAWS UK praised the strategy’s potential to transform animal welfare, while Dogs Trust welcomed measures preventing the import of underage or heavily pregnant puppies and supporting regulation of rehoming centres.
Compassion in World Farming and Humane World for Animals highlighted the benefits for farmed animals, with millions of hens and pigs expected to benefit annually from improved standards and humane slaughter practices. Battersea emphasized the strategy’s focus on tackling puppy smuggling, bad breeding practices, and regulating the rescue sector, while Waitrose noted the strategy’s alignment with consumer demand for higher welfare standards and transparency in farming.
The League Against Cruel Sports welcomed the planned ban on snares in England, citing the dangers these devices pose to wildlife and pets, and praised the government for taking decisive steps to reduce unnecessary animal suffering. Overall, the strategy represents a comprehensive, cross-sector approach to improving animal welfare across the UK, combining legislative reforms, enforcement measures, and community engagement.
