Mid Bedfordshire MP Blake Stephenson has thrown his support behind new legislation that would introduce a legal requirement for all animal shelters in England to be licensed, closing a dangerous loophole that currently leaves some unregulated and uninspected.
Blake joined a cross-party group of MPs and Peers at a Westminster photocall in support of the Private Member’s Bill introduced by Richard Holden MP, which proposes a proportionate, light-touch licensing scheme to ensure minimum standards are met in all shelters.
Licensing for animal shelters already exists in Scotland, and the Welsh Government has committed to introducing its own system. England is now at risk of being left behind, with devastating consequences. In one recent case, 41 dogs were found dead at a so-called ‘rescue’ facility, with limited powers for local authorities or the RSPCA to inspect the site before high evidential thresholds were met.
The campaign for change has received the backing of leading animal welfare charities, including the RSPCA and Dogs Trust, and a petition calling for Parliamentary debate has already gained over 54,000 signatures.
The Bill is expected to be debated in the coming months.
Blake Stephenson, the MP for Mid Bedfordshire, commented: "Animal shelters across the country do vital work to rescue and rehome pets, yet unlike breeders and kennels, there’s no requirement for them to be licensed or inspected. That’s simply not good enough.
"I am backing this new law to close that loophole and bring in a sensible, light-touch licensing system to protect animals and support responsible shelters. It’s already in place in Scotland, and Wales and Northern Ireland are following suit; it’s time England caught up."
Harriet Main, Public Affairs Manager at the RSPCA, said: "Many owners of sanctuaries and other animal welfare establishments do an amazing job for animal welfare, but the current lack of regulation and oversight has long been a major concern for the RSPCA.
"Our officers have too often dealt with situations that have spiralled out of control, and animal welfare pays the price. Capacity, governance and financial issues are all a reality for many sanctuaries and other establishments, but regulation could really help fix this.
"That's why we welcome any proposals looking to regulate, providing oversight and scrutiny, and helping drive up welfare standards. It could help give the public additional assurances that all animal welfare establishments right across England are checked and are up to the job."
