Parliament debated licensing rescue centres and it’s now on the Government’s to-do list

On 26 January 2026, MPs held a Westminster Hall debate on a public e-petition signed by almost 110,000 people calling for mandatory licensing and regulation of dog and cat rescue and rehoming organisations in England. Right now, anyone can set up a rescue without needing a licence or inspection — unlike breeders, kennels, or pet sellers. 

During the debate, MPs made the case for stronger oversight, highlighting how unregulated centres can pose risks to animal welfare, public safety, and disease control. 

That debate happened for one reason: people like you made it happen. 

Thanks to a huge collective effort, the petition passed the 100,000-signature threshold needed to trigger a Parliamentary debate, closing with 109,647 signatures. FOUR PAWS was thrilled to help push it over the line. If you signed, shared, forwarded, nudged a friend, or talked about it at all: thank you.  

The debate, opened by Irene Campbell MP, struck the balance animal welfare supporters want: recognising that most rescues do great work, while being honest that the current system leaves a dangerous gap.  

Right now (other than in Scotland, which has already has rules in place) in England, a rescue and rehoming centre can operate without a clear, consistent national licensing framework. MPs described how this makes it possible for anyone to present themselves as a rescue, without routine inspection or oversight - and how that undermines public confidence, puts pressure on good organisations, and most importantly, risks animals suffering.  

That point matters, because good rescues deserve protecting too. Licensing isn’t about punishment or bureaucracy; it’s about stopping the few bad characters from hiding in plain sight - and giving local authorities clearer tools to act early, before situations escalate.

We can’t talk about why this petition came to being without naming the tragedy that brought the problem into focus. 

MPs frequently referenced the Save A Paw case in Essex, where dozens of dogs were found dead, with others discovered alive, but in desperate conditions. This was a case that shocked the public and raised hard questions about how intervention can come too late when there’s no licensing system in place.  

No petition can undo what those animals went through. But it can help make sure that future warnings trigger faster, clearer action.

Here’s the genuinely important shift: the Government’s Animal Welfare Strategy for England (published in December 2025) includes a commitment to launch a consultation on licensing domestic rescue and rehoming organisations. In the debate, the Minister, Dame Angela Eagle MP, reiterated that commitment directly.  

That’s not the finish line, - but it’s the crucial first step towards achieving positive change.

The debate was a big step forward, but it’s not the end.

The Government has promised a public consultation on licensing rescue and rehoming organisations. When it opens, it will be a crucial moment. The more people who speak up, the stronger the protections for animals will be.

We’ll be calling on you again to help make sure the system is built around welfare, proper inspections, and real accountability. And this must go beyond dogs and cats. Wildlife rescue centres care for some of the most vulnerable animals too, and wild animals deserve protection under the same safeguards.

This is a chance to help shape real change for animals who cannot speak for themselves.

So together, we’ll keep being their voice.

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