Puppy farm ban promised in plans to improve animal welfare

by | Dec 22, 2025 | Politics

An end to puppy farming and a possible ban on the use of electric shock dog collars are being promised as part a raft of government proposals to improve animal welfare.Plans include a ban on trail hunting in England and Wales, a practice which the government says is sometimes used as a smokescreen for illegal fox hunting, as well as improved standards in farming.The National Farmers Union (NFU) said plans also needed to ensure that imported products meet the same standards as British goods.Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds described the package as “the most ambitious animal welfare strategy in a generation”, but the Conservatives said it showed Labour did not care about rural Britain.Puppy farming is a term used to describe the practice of keeping dogs in poor conditions where they produce multiple litters a year to maximise profits.Animal rights campaigners say the practice can lead to long-term health issues in puppies. It is not currently illegal to breed a large number of dogs. Breeders selling three or more litters a year in England, Wales and Northern Ireland must undergo an inspection to get a licence. It is not yet clear how exactly the new rules will differ.The RSPCA said the ban could be a “real game-changer” and it would work with the government on writing the legislation to “make sure there are no loopholes”.The government is also looking to ban the use of snare traps in the countryside and confirmed it would carry out a consultation on the proposed ban on trail hunting in 2026.Trail hunting involves using a rag with a natural scent on to lay a trail ahead of a hunt, which is then followed by the houn …

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[mwai_chat context=”Let’s have a discussion about this article:nnAn end to puppy farming and a possible ban on the use of electric shock dog collars are being promised as part a raft of government proposals to improve animal welfare.Plans include a ban on trail hunting in England and Wales, a practice which the government says is sometimes used as a smokescreen for illegal fox hunting, as well as improved standards in farming.The National Farmers Union (NFU) said plans also needed to ensure that imported products meet the same standards as British goods.Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds described the package as “the most ambitious animal welfare strategy in a generation”, but the Conservatives said it showed Labour did not care about rural Britain.Puppy farming is a term used to describe the practice of keeping dogs in poor conditions where they produce multiple litters a year to maximise profits.Animal rights campaigners say the practice can lead to long-term health issues in puppies. It is not currently illegal to breed a large number of dogs. Breeders selling three or more litters a year in England, Wales and Northern Ireland must undergo an inspection to get a licence. It is not yet clear how exactly the new rules will differ.The RSPCA said the ban could be a “real game-changer” and it would work with the government on writing the legislation to “make sure there are no loopholes”.The government is also looking to ban the use of snare traps in the countryside and confirmed it would carry out a consultation on the proposed ban on trail hunting in 2026.Trail hunting involves using a rag with a natural scent on to lay a trail ahead of a hunt, which is then followed by the houn …nnDiscussion:nn” ai_name=”RocketNews AI: ” start_sentence=”Can I tell you more about this article?” text_input_placeholder=”Type ‘Yes'”]