Campaigners hope Sir Keir Starmer's Government will get behind action to protect dogs (Image: Getty)
Dogs are dying in appalling conditions in unregulated “rehoming centres”, according to campaigners who demand a change in the law. The Dogs Trust warns that centres can be opened by people without experience or training and wants a mandatory licensing system introduced.
There is concern well-intentioned people become “overwhelmed” by the challenges of caring for a large number of animals.
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The Dogs Trust describes the present system as a “free for all” which puts animals’ lives at risk. Former Conservative Party chairman Richard Holden is taking forward a Private Member’s Bill with cross-party support in a bid to end cruelty, neglect and suffering.
Last year, the owner of the Alternative Animal Sanctuary in New York, Lincolnshire, received an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, after keeping animals in what the RSPCA described as “awful” conditions. More than 70 cats and 14 pigs as well as dogs and horses were found on site.
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YouGov polling for the Dogs Trust found 89% of the public in England say licences should be required by law, and 90% support a system of regular inspections. The charity warns that without proper rules “rogue traders” and “backyard breeders” as well as well-meaning people who are not up to the task will put dogs at “risk of neglect, illness, and even death”.
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Billericay and Basildon MP Mr Holden said: “Reports of so-called rescue centres, where dogs have been found dead or mistreated, have shocked people across the country and exposed a dangerous gap in the law. The Bill will bring rescue and rehoming centres under the same statutory framework that already applies to kennels and breeders, closing the loophole that leaves animals unprotected.
“Mandatory licensing will drive up welfare standards, weed out rogue operators and give the public confidence that every organisation caring for dogs is properly equipped and held to account.”
Owen Sharp, chief executive of the Dogs Trust, said: “There are brilliant rescue centres doing incredible work across the UK – but without licensing, there’s nothing to stop someone with no training or experience setting one up and doing real harm. Good intentions aren’t enough.
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“We need laws in place to make sure all rescue dogs are safe, cared for, and treated with the respect they deserve. Without proper oversight, these organisations cannot guarantee that they are operating in the best interests of the animals in their care.
“Too often we hear heartbreaking stories of dogs that have endured neglect and mistreatment in unregulated facilities. Licensing would create a clear framework to ensure that all dogs are treated with the care, dignity, and compassion they deserve.”
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A Government spokesperson said: “We are a nation of animal lovers, and all rescue centres are required by law to protect animals from unnecessary suffering. All cases of animal cruelty are unacceptable and will be investigated thoroughly.”
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