Our policies

Housing is the second most common reason that cats and dogs are relinquished to Battersea, representing one in ten of the animals in our care. In many cases, due to rental properties having restrictive pet policies, tenants have been forced to make the heart-breaking choice between their pet and a place to live.

Battersea research has found that 76% of private tenants are directly affected by landlord pet policies. Yet renters are just as likely as anyone to want a pet and share in the great mental, physical and social benefits of pet ownership; with our research finding that 60% of people living in accommodation where pets are banned would like to own a pet.

Through our Pet Friendly Properties campaign, we are working with tenants, landlords and Government to implement solutions to this challenge.
 

Pet travel and post EU puppy and kitten smuggling 

Both commercial and non-commercial importation of dogs and cats are increasing. Battersea and the animal welfare sector are concerned that the current Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) is being used by illegal traders to bypass the more restrictive requirements of commercial importation, which is required for animals intended for sale. This can be seen in the increase in numbers of dogs travelling to the UK after PETS was introduced. In 2010, before PETS was introduced, 26,000 dogs entered the UK for non-commercial purposes, this rose to 53,000 in 2013 once the Scheme was in place. In 2022, 279,402 dogs entered the UK under PETS.

Many of these animals brought into the country illegally via this loophole are unvaccinated, transported in unhealthy conditions for days and forego any necessary veterinary checks, posing serious welfare concerns and biosecurity risks to the UK. 

Following the UK’s departure from the EU, the Government was required to review and amend the regulations on dogs and cats arriving in the UK. The requirements for commercial and non-commercial imports were intended to be changed in 2021 through the UK Government laying the Animal Welfare (kept Animals) Bill. However, the Bill stalled and was subsequently dropped. A Private Member’s Bill was bought forward in 2023 to bring into law the imports requirement previously in the Kept Animals Bill, however this fell in 2024 at the General Election.

Existing importation regulations do not protect animal health or welfare. Battersea is calling on the Government to introduce an imports Bill which will:

• Make it illegal to import animals with harmful mutilations such as dogs with cropped ears or docked tails, or cats that have been declawed.
• Make it illegal to import heavily pregnant animals.
• Improve data collection and availability and ensure thorough border checks.
• Raise public awareness on where to responsibly source a pet. 
• Increase post-vaccination wait period for rabies from 3 to 12 weeks so that puppies and kittens cannot be imported under six months of age. This would support enforcers in identifying underage dogs/cats and reduce the economic viability of smuggling, as puppies are less sought after at this age.
• Treat all dogs and cats against tick borne diseases prior to entry, to protect the UK and our domestic animals. 
• Reduce number of dogs permitted to travel across international borders to 3 per non-commercial vehicle. Any more than this would rarely be possible while protecting animal safety and compliant with safe transport regulations. Our research has shown that only 3 in 1000 dog owners have ever travelled with more than 3 animals in a vehicle; it is possible that those doing so may be commercial sellers masquerading as pet owners.

We will push the Government to introduce this legislation which will clamp down on kitten and puppy smuggling. 

Irresponsible breeding

There is an urgent need for better traceability of breeders, puppies and kittens. Based on Freedom of Information (FOI) requests carried out by Battersea, we estimate that less that 10% of puppies in England come from licensed breeders. There is also currently no legislation which regulates cat breeding in England or Wales. This means that many puppies and kittens are bred with no oversight of their welfare, while the enforcement of licensing requirements remains patchy and all too often ineffective.

The reduced supply and high demand for pets during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in higher priced animals and breeding became highly attractive to unethical breeders. Now demand has decreased, and Battersea has seen an increasing number of puppies and kittens arriving at our centres, and a significant rise in the numbers of puppies and kittens born onsite. 

Battersea is calling on the Governments of the UK to regulate cat breeding, to strengthen dog breeding Regulations, and implement a registration system for breeding outside of the regulatory requirements. This would ensure there are no loopholes that allow low welfare breeders to breed or sell puppies and kittens, ensure full traceability of animals, and to reduce the number of dogs and cats being relinquished or abandoned.

Battersea research has also found that an inconsistent approach to enforcement of animal licensing regulations puts animal welfare at risk, and must be tackled as part of a Government review of licensing. 

Breeding for exaggerated characteristics

Selective breeding of dogs and cats for exaggerated characteristics such as a flat face, excessively muscular dogs or the short legs of munchkin cats or dachshunds, pose serious health and welfare concerns for the animals involved. These cats and dogs can suffer with respiratory difficulties, problems giving birth, and issues with the joints, eyes and skin. Yet these features exist solely because of a human demand for a certain aesthetic.

The number of bull breeds and brachycephalic animals arriving at Battersea centres continues to rise year on year, with many needing to undergo major, and in some cases lifesaving, surgery just to be able to breathe. In 2015 our clinic carried out 7 BOAS surgeries (to open their airways), in 2023 this number had risen to 78. Many of these animals are gifted to Battersea because their owners simply cannot afford to resolve their medical issues.

The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 state that no dog should be kept for breeding by licensed breeders if breeding from it endangers the health and welfare of either the dog itself or its offspring. We believe these regulations should be improved and become law for anyone breeding dogs, licensed or otherwise. 

No cat or dog should be bred for exaggerated characteristics. Battersea will work to improve legislation that governs dog breeding and we are calling for cat breeding to be a regulated activity in England and Wales with similar genetic and physical health requirements that exist for regulated dog breeding.

 

Better Preventative Legislation

Section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act (1991) bans five types of dog based on their appearance and an inaccurate belief that they are innately dangerous. These five types are the Dogo Argentino, Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Fila Brasiliero and the American XL Bully type. 

The Act was introduced in 1991 to protect the public, but NHS data on admissions caused by dog bites or strikes and Home Office data on dog attack offences reveal that both have increased over time. The preventative element of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, Section 1, simply doesn’t work.  Assuming a dog is dangerous because of the way it looks is no way to reduce the number of dog attacks; it risks public safety and leads to hundreds of well-behaved dogs being needlessly put down. 

In 2016, Battersea research found that 74 percent of behaviourists believed that a dog’s breed is of little or no relevance in determining whether it will go on to become aggressive. The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee held an inquiry into the legislation's effectiveness in 2018 and recommended it be reviewed.

Tragically, the number of dog attacks continue to rise. 22 people were killed as a result of dog attacks in England and Wales between 2013 and 2019. In 2022, the media reported 10 fatal dog attacks in England and Wales. However, all too little is known about how and why these incidents, which may be very different in nature, occur. Until we understand how and why dog attacks are triggered, it will continue to be very difficult to prevent them. 

We want to see the Government undertake a full review of how information is recorded around dog attacks, and how the law around dogs works. Until a genuinely preventative, breed-neutral approach is adopted, that is designed to tackle all dangerous dogs incidents, the public will not be protected, and dogs will continue to be euthanised on the grounds of their appearance, not their behaviour.

There are also too many different laws that deal with dogs, leaving dog owners and enforcers confused. Battersea are calling for all pieces of legislation relating to dogs to be consolidated into one Act. This would support enforcement of existing legislation; targeting irresponsible owners and dogs based on their behaviour, which would safeguard the public and protect dog welfare.  
 

Regulation of rescues 

Animal Welfare Establishments (AWEs) such as rescue and rehoming centres and animal sanctuaries, are not currently regulated in England and Wales. Anyone who operates such an organisation must ensure that they meet the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, although there are no specific legal criteria for how a centre should operate. There is an industry recognised set of Minimum Standards set by the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes, of which Battersea is a member, and Battersea would like to ensure that the law in England and Wales reflects these standards.

The regulation of AWEs across the UK will:

• Raise overall welfare standards at establishments.
• Give prospective owners confidence in the animals they are taking on.
• Safeguard public safety.
• Prevent third-party sellers from posing as rescue and rehoming centres. 
• Prevent unscrupulous breeders from using the guise of ‘overseas rescues’ to sell dogs and cats.

The Scottish Government progressed the regulation of rescues, and in January 2021 the Scottish Parliament passed the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021. Battersea will now push for similar legislation to be introduced in England and Wales. 

Aversive training devices / regulating dog trainers

Training a dog with ‘negative reinforcement’ methods such as dominance-based techniques or electric shock collars (ESCs) intend to enforce behaviour through pain and fear. ESCs work by giving electric shocks to dogs via metal conductors, with up to 6,000 volts emitted for up to 11 seconds. Meanwhile, positive reinforcement rewards an animal for displaying desirable behaviours.

Research has shown that ESCs are ineffective at modifying undesirable behaviours when compared with positive reinforcement and that these devices cause unnecessary suffering to dogs. In contrast, evidence shows that dogs respond well to positive reinforcement training, which strengthens the human-animal bond, helps build confidence, and owners that train using positive rewards report fewer behavioural problems. Given our non-selective intake policy, Battersea cares for many of the most challenging dogs and achieves incredible and lasting results without ever using aversive techniques or shock collars.

While the use of shock collars is still legal in England and Scotland, it is especially concerning that anyone in the UK can set up as a dog trainer or behaviourist with no experience or qualifications. While many belong to a representative group with welfare standards and training, a lack of Government regulation enables people with low training skills and poor welfare ethics to practice legally.

In 2018, the Government announced their intention to ban shock collars in England. Draft legislation was laid in April 2023 but was not passed into law. Battersea is calling on the Government to urgently pass legislation to ban shock collars and regulate dog trainers and behaviourists to safeguard both canine welfare and public safety.

If you would like more practical information on safety around dogs you can find this in our dog advice section.