Today, FOUR PAWS UK welcomes the release of the Government’s Animal Welfare Strategy. Reforming dog breeding practices, moving away from the use of confinement systems on UK farms and banning trail hunting, are all part of plans released today which could help the Labour Party transform the lives of millions of animals. 

Intended to outline the Government’s pathway to achieving the biggest boost to animal welfare in a generation, the new animal welfare strategy has the potential to be transformative for animals, and FOUR PAWS UK was a leader in inputting into these plans and ensuring that animals remain on the political agenda. Yet the work is only just beginning as the global animal welfare organisation comments on.   

Sonul Badiani-Hamment, FOUR PAWS UK Country Director says:   

“FOUR PAWS UK welcomes the release of the Animal Welfare Strategy and the commitments outlined which have the potential to transform the lives of millions of animals. Improving animal welfare is not only a moral and ethical imperative, but also essential for building a healthy and prosperous nation. By taking action to end the use of confinement systems in farming, ban trail hunting, tackle the scrouge of puppy farming and strengthen penalties for cruelty against wildlife, the Government can significantly reduce animal suffering in the UK."

Most significantly the Government have laid down their high ambition to transform the lives of farmed animals, outlining an unequivocal commitment to support industry to phase out enriched cages for laying hens and farrowing crate for pigs.  Additionally their plan to encourage industry to end the practice of killing day-old chicks is a single move which could prevent 40 to 45 million male chicks from being killed within 12 to 36 hours of being born. By also committing to explore how clearer food labelling, including method of production labelling, could improve animal welfare and promising to ban the use of carbon dioxide gas stunning of pigs, the Government is setting out a clear direction of travel to enable as many farmed animals as possible to have a good life.  

Sonul Badiani-Hamment concludes on the hopes FOUR PAWS UK hold for the strategy: 

“The Government’s much anticipated Animal Welfare Strategy outlines an ambitious plan that could positively impact the lives of millions of animals in the UK. The priority now must be swift action to deliver on these commitments for animals, to help ensure that as many animal as possible have a good life. We look forward to working alongside the Government in 2026 to help implement the strategy and fulfil their ambition to enact the biggest boost to animal welfare in a generation."

As 2025 draws to a close, it would be remiss to ignore the notable wins for animals. Last month, the Government unveiled new plans to phase out animal testing, and the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act 2025 – also known as the Puppy Smuggling Bill – received Royal Assent. With the release of today’s Animal Welfare Strategy, 2026 could have the potential to continue to bring lasting change for animal welfare, worldwide.