Retailers, food service and government need to catch up with public attitudes towards meat consumption, animal welfare and supporting farmers. As part of the Eating Better alliance, we focus on promoting ‘less and better’ meat and dairy consumption, and a shift towards healthy and sustainable diets. Find out how you can reduce the meat in your diet here.

Many of the planning applications for new or expanded farms are for intensive systems or ‘mega farms’. Intensive farms are designed to maximise food production and profit, and animals suffer as a result, with increased disease and shortened lives. Factory farms are also bad for the environment. You can help our campaign against them by adding your voice here.

We want an end to long-distance live animal transport and that of unweaned animals, and a move towards a trade in meat and carcasses, with slaughter taking place at the closest suitable facility. Until this happens, animals will continue to suffer on long journeys in cramped conditions causing them fear and distress. Read more here about our work across Europe.  

Foie gras production involves repeatedly force-feeding ducks and geese, causing almost inconceivable suffering. The practice is illegal in the UK, but we still import around 200 tonnes from Europe each year. Prior to the 2024 election, Labour promised to ban foie gras imports and we are determined that they honour this commitment.

We want to End the Cage Age and ban the use of farrowing crates for sows, individual pens for calves and barren, enriched and ‘combi’ cages for chickens by 2027. Read more about this issue in our blog.

We are calling for a consolidated effort from the Government to ensure that UK trade policy adheres to core animal welfare standards. We are responding to as many government consultations on this matter as possible. We must not import cruelty into the UK. Read more here. 

We want to see an end to the cruel sport of trophy hunting once and for all.The UK Government must introduce a total ban on the import of hunting trophies - with no loopholes or exemptions! Find out more.

The barbaric cruelty of fur farming must end. Although illegal here, we still import and sell millions of pounds worth of fur into the UK each year. We want a fur free Britain. Find out what we are doing to influence the Government on this issue.

We want the Hunting Act strengthened, with better enforcement and heftier fines. Loopholes, such as trail hunting that ‘accidentally’ end with the death of a fox, should be banned. Furthermore, we support fellow NGOs in ending the badger cull through our work within the Wildlife and Countryside Link coalition.

FOUR PAWS UK welcomes the Governments reform of the Zoo Licensing regulations but encourage further steps are taken to close persistent animal welfare gaps. We must phase out elephant captivity, ban public interactions with all wild animals, enforce stricter species suitability criteria, and establish a central oversight body. 

Whether performing in circuses, bought as pets or killed and turned into traditional medicine, skins or trophies, a lack of regulation in Europe is putting an almost extinct species at risk. At least 1,682 tiger products were seized from 2009-2014 in the UK. Click here to find out more about this cruel trade.  

An explosion in demand for puppies during the pandemic allowed illegal breeders to profit. Thousands of puppies are smuggled into the UK each year from Europe, having been bred in horrific conditions that affect their long-term health and welfare. We need tough new rules that combat puppy smuggling and ensure that puppies, and the families buying them, do not suffer.  Read more about our work here.

The rules around UK dog breeding need to be stronger and better enforced by Local Authorities. FOUR PAWS is working to ensure that existing rules are properly applied and that new regulations are introduced to address current loopholes and gaps. Until this happens, unscrupulous breeders will continue to profit from the suffering of animals and unsuspecting owners. Find out more.