Debate on a petition to introduce licensing and regulation for dog and cat rescues

The e-petition 718660, Introduce Licensing and Regulation for Dog and Cat Rescues to Protect Welfare, closed on 8 October 2025. It received 109,647 signatures.

The petition calls for mandatory licensing and regular inspections of animal rescue organisations to ensure that they are meeting animal welfare standards and operating transparently. It argues that this would safeguard both animal welfare and public confidence that rescue organisations are run responsibly.

The government response on 10 July 2025:

• said that the statutory welfare requirements of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 must be adhered to by animal rescue and rehoming organisations,
• recommended that the public use a rescue centre which is a member of the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes, a charity which sets standards for its members to operate by, and
• said that the government was considering whether additional guidance and regulation was needed for rescue and rehoming centres as part of developing an overarching approach to animal welfare.

Pet rescue and rehoming activities

Animal welfare is a devolved matter, and licensing requirements for activities involving animals are separate in each part of the UK.

On 22 December 2025 the government published its Animal Welfare Strategy for England. The strategy said that the government would launch a consultation on licensing domestic rescue and rehoming organisations.

In Scotland, 98.3% of respondents to a Scottish Government consultation were in favour of regulating animal sanctuaries and rehoming centres.¹ The Scottish Government has since introduced a licensing regime.

A survey by animal charity PDSA found that, in 2025, 17% of dog owners and 33% of cat owners had got their pet from a rescue or rehoming organisation.²