Our policies

Pet Friendly Properties 

Housing is the second most common reason that cats and dogs are relinquished to Battersea. 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.

While landlords often cite property damage as a concern, recent research conducted by Huddersfield University and funded by Battersea found that:
• 76% of landlords reported no damage from pets.
• On average, the total reported cost by landlords of pet-related damage was £300, compared with £775 for non-pet-related damages.
• Landlords can expect to gain more financially from renting to tenants with pets than they spend on associated expenses.

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

Commercial and non-commercial imports; puppy and kitten smuggling

Existing importation regulations do not protect animal health or welfare.

The non-commercial Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) has made it easier for owners to travel with pets within the European Union. However, PETS has been used by illegal traders to bypass the more restrictive requirements of commercial importation and traffic underage animals into the UK. This is evidenced by the huge increases in numbers of dogs travelling to the UK since PETS was updated in 2012. Data from the Animal Health & Plant Agency (APHA) shows that between 2015 and 2019 there was an 86% increase in the number of dogs entering the country via PETS. Many of the 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.

Commercial imports of dogs and cats have been increasing year on year since 2015. In 2021 rescue/rehoming accounted for 78% of the total dogs being imported commercially. Significant concerns exist both in terms of the veracity of these figures and whether commercial pet sales are being passed off as rescue, with questions over healthcare, vaccination and socialisation standards, especially while rescue and rehoming remains an unregulated activity.

Current import regulations also provide a loophole for mutilations that are illegal in the UK to continue. Puppies or kittens can be legally imported with mutilations such as cropped ears, docked tails, declawed or debarked. There are an estimated 21,000 imported ear cropped dogs in the UK dog population. But this loophole is also used by low-welfare breeders to carry out these procedures here in the UK.

A Private Member’s Bill to close the loopholes around dog and cat imports was introduced by Danny Chambers MP in October 2024 which will ban the import of dogs and cats that are heavily pregnant, below the age of 6 months or have illegal mutilations. This will make it harder and less appealing for low-welfare breeders to import or smuggle puppies and kittens for sale. We were delighted to see this Bill get Government support and urge the Government to make time to bring it into law as soon as possible. 

Illegal Mutilations

The Animal Welfare Act (2006) bans cosmetic mutilations of animals such as cropped ears, docked tail, declawing cats or debarking dogs. Despite this, a 2023 review of canine consultations by UK vets found that the number of ear cropped dogs seen, had grown from two to ten per 100,000 canine consultations.  

Ear cropping is a cosmetic procedure where some or all of the external part of a dog’s ear is removed. This is done purely for aesthetics, and not only is it painful but it creates lifelong difficulties for dogs to express normal behaviours. Ear cropping reduces a dog’s ability to communicate and increases the risk of behavioural problems as they are less able to signal to other dogs or people what they are feeling.

Battersea is concerned that ear cropping is taking place illegally within the UK; we have seen an increase in the number of dogs coming into our centres with cropped ears, from 1 in 2015 to 26 in 2024 and many of these dogs were born in the UK. Ear clamps, which are solely used for the illegal practice of ear cropping, are being openly sold on online marketplaces in the UK. Similarly, equipment for ear posting, which is carried out after ear cropping to hold ears into shape, is also being sold on online marketplaces and, in some instances, from UK sellers. 

The Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill will ban the import of dogs and cats with illegal mutilations and close the loophole which allows these procedures to be carried out in the UK.  This will be a big step forward in addressing the prevalence of ear-cropped dogs in the UK. Battersea is pushing the Government to pass this legislation and we are campaigning to tackle the demand for illegal mutilations; we want people to prioritise welfare over aesthetics.

Cats and dogs with extreme features

Cats and dogs with extreme features are growing in popularity. Characteristics such as a flat face, excessive muscle, short legs or exotic hybrids have become more desirable, but selective breeding for exaggerated features poses 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 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 Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (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 growing popularity of Brachycephalic breeds has also seemingly coincided with the rise in canine fertility clinics (CFCs),  which are currently unregulated in the UK. Brachycephalic dogs are frequently unable to mate and whelp naturally, with an 80% caesarean rate  because of their extreme conformation and difficulty breathing, so there are concerns that CFCs are used to facilitate breeding.

No cat or dog should be bred for features that compromise their health and welfare and Battersea will campaign to reduce demand for animals with extreme and harmful features and drive up welfare standards in breeding.
 

Low welfare 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 than 10% of puppies in England come from licensed breeders and there is currently no legislation which regulates cat breeding in England or Wales. This lack of regulatory oversight allows irresponsible breeders to prioritise profit over welfare. Cats and dogs are kept in unsuitable and unsafe conditions and bred with extreme traits that compromise their long-term health, such as brachycephalic (or flat faced) animals.

Battersea are also concerned with the welfare standards of some licensed breeders. There is an inconsistent approach to enforcement of dog breeding regulations which puts animal welfare at risk. Battersea research has found pronounced differences in Local Authority structure, training for licence inspectors, licence fees, and gaps in the legislation which allow poor breeding practices to continue.

Battersea is calling on UK Governments to take urgent action to close regulatory gaps, prioritise welfare and improve the traceability of breeders, dogs and cats through;
• Regulation of cat breeding in England and Wales. 
• Strengthening of dog breeding Regulations.
• Improved and fully resourced enforcement of all animal licensing activities.
• Regulation of Canine Fertility Clinics.
• Strengthening pet sales legislation.
• All breeders to be required to display their registration or licence number in all advertisements, whether for sale, rehoming, or transfer, to support informed decision-making by prospective buyers. 
• Build publicly accessible databases of all registered and licensed breeders to increase transparency and public trust.

Regulation of Animal Welfare Establishments (AWEs)

Animal Welfare Establishments (AWEs) such as rescue and rehoming centres and animal sanctuaries, are not currently regulated in England and Wales. The lack of a licensing framework poses a direct threat to animal welfare, allowing facilities to operate without meeting the standards required by The Animal Welfare Act 2006.

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. 

There is an industry recognised set of Minimum Standards set by the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes (ADCH), of which Battersea is a member, and Battersea would like to ensure that the law in England and Wales reflects these standards and aligns with the new system in Scotland. The regulation of AWEs across the UK will:
• Raise overall welfare standards at establishments.
• Prevent third-party sellers from posing as rescue and rehoming centres. 
• Prevent low-welfare breeders from using the guise of ‘overseas rescues’ to sell dogs and cats.
• Give prospective owners confidence in the animals they are taking on.
• Safeguard public safety.
 

Better Preventative Legislation

The current approach to dangerous dogs is not working. Section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act (1991) bans five types of dog based on their appearance and an incorrect 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. 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% 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 effectiveness of the Dangerous Dogs Act (1991) in 2018 and recommended it be reviewed.

A breed-neutral, preventative strategy is needed, that targets the root causes of dangerous dog incidents - irresponsible ownership, poor training, and a lack of early intervention.

• Battersea want to see the Government undertake a full review of the law.
• The Government must work in partnership with police and Local Authorities to promote responsible dog ownership.
• When addressing anti-social behaviour with dogs, we want to encourage Local Authorities and police to use a balanced approach. The measured use of Public Space Protection Order (PSPOs), Community Protection Notices (CPNs) or the LEAD initiative offer solutions that target irresponsible owners and address anti-social behaviour without penalising responsible dog owners or excluding communities from dog ownership.
• Regulation of dog trainers is urgently required to protect both dogs and the public from poor training practices and unethical treatment. 
• There are 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.  

Aversive training devices / regulating dog trainers

Training a dog with ‘negative reinforcement’ methods such as dominance-based techniques or electric shock collars (ESCs) 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 their dogs 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 Improving safety around dogs you can find this in our dog advice section.