New report exposes inconsistent dog breeding licence enforcement across the UK 

FOUR PAWS UK conducted an extensive investigation into dog breeding licences across the UK, submitting FOI requests between May 2023 and March 2024 to assess enforcement of the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 (LAIA). Their findings revealed inconsistencies in enforcement, with local authorities demonstrating varying levels of effort, proactive measures, and data collection.

Key highlights from the report include:

• Dog breeding licence renewal rates exceeding 95% across all home nations, suggesting a routine approval process.

• New licence application approvals at 88% or above in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, while Wales approved 63%.

• Only 35 licences revoked or suspended out of 9,882 granted between 2018 and 2023.

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (Efra) launched an inquiry into pet welfare and abuse in early 2023, emphasizing the need for standardized training and accreditation for animal welfare officers. However, Defra’s Post-Implementation Review (PIR) of the LAIA regulations, published in December 2024, failed to address systemic issues, focusing instead on operational aspects rather than measurable improvements in animal welfare. Many of Efra’s recommendations were ultimately rejected.