Gransnet forums

News & politics

Animal Welfare Bill

(54 Posts)
Whitewavemark2 Mon 22-Dec-25 12:58:33

Some excellent news.

Caged Hens to be banned.

Pigs farrowing crates to be banned.

End of puppy farming

Consultation on electric shock collars - imo ought to have been banned years ago.

Ban on shooting hares

Ban on snares

End of trail hunting

New laws for the humane slaughter of farmed fish

Highest welfare for zoo animals.

Good.

Anniebach Mon 22-Dec-25 13:04:33

Yes to all

Smileless2012 Mon 22-Dec-25 13:08:37

It's about time.

Sarnia Mon 22-Dec-25 13:09:48

Some good news for a change. Lovely.

Chocolatelovinggran Mon 22-Dec-25 13:28:59

Excellent news

ViceVersa Mon 22-Dec-25 13:29:19

Definitely to be welcomed - but it's no use just having those enshrined in law. It also need to be enforced - and I suspect that's where the problems may arise. But it's definitely a step in the right direction.

Jaberwok Mon 22-Dec-25 13:58:00

Ban on Hala slaughter? .Sadly no!

Lathyrus3 Mon 22-Dec-25 14:04:51

I do think that’s good news

but I have to admit I’m going to miss the sight of those eager, joyous hounds yapping and leaping about and then running at top speed, belling as they go.

Especially once I knew they were only chasing a bit of rag.

I wonder will they manage to be rehomed and will they like life outside the pack 🤔

MaizieD Mon 22-Dec-25 14:23:25

Especially once I knew they were only chasing a bit of rag.

If they'd stuck with the bit of rag they might not have featured in this bill.

Smileless2012 Mon 22-Dec-25 14:40:09

Exactly Maizie.

Lathyrus3 Mon 22-Dec-25 14:42:29

I did wonder if this but if the ban was because some did chase live animals.

I will still miss as them though and am concerned about what will happen to them.

Sadly I think they will be put down🙁

Cabowich Mon 22-Dec-25 14:43:59

Yes, it is brilliant news. Well done, Labour Party, for this. If they go ahead with it. As I said in an earlier post, they will have a fight on their hands.

And it does clash with their other stance on curtailing nature protections to boost housing, so I'm not sure if I trust them entirely. We shall see.

dalrymple23 Mon 22-Dec-25 14:55:21

Yes Jabberwok - there must be a ban on Halal slaughter - it is cruel beyond belief. Starmer and Co won't do it as it will lose them votes!

Banning trail hunting is facile and unnecessary. It is a spiteful move. From what I have read, those glorious hounds will have to be destroyed, as they are not suitable for domestic rehoming.

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Mon 22-Dec-25 14:58:07

Halal slaughtering in industrial quantities needed in the UK is an abomination.

GrannyGravy13 Mon 22-Dec-25 15:21:53

Halal slaughter is an abomination, and it is hard to avoid in supermarkets.

Banning Trail Hunting like IHT on Farmers just shows how out of touch this Government is with the Countryside 🤷‍♀️

Yes, the hounds will probably have to be destroyed 😿

I suppose they will ban Point-to-Point next, or anything that isn’t done in London.

Whitewavemark2 Mon 22-Dec-25 15:26:06

I think that trail hunting would not have been banned except that the partakers failed to comply with the law, and many foxes are still being killed.

Stick to the law and trail hunt continues,

Simple. No good moaning now.

Whitewavemark2 Mon 22-Dec-25 15:27:30

The hounds don’t have to be slaughtered! Not if those taking part care enough about the hounds and continue to care for them.

GrannyGravy13 Mon 22-Dec-25 15:29:29

Whitewavemark2

I think that trail hunting would not have been banned except that the partakers failed to comply with the law, and many foxes are still being killed.

Stick to the law and trail hunt continues,

Simple. No good moaning now.

Unfortunately hounds do not differentiate between the trail laid and a fox scent along the way.

Whitewavemark2 Mon 22-Dec-25 15:32:35

That is the huntsman's job - to ensure they go in the right direction.

Iam64 Mon 22-Dec-25 15:36:43

It’s not so easy for the hounds to be redirected once they’re chasing a scent

I’m sure many if not all hounds will be destroyed, they’re unsuitable for rehoming into domestic life.

Whitewavemark2 Mon 22-Dec-25 15:42:32

In which case then those hunting should have gradually run the kennels down over the past few years, if they knew that they can’t control the hounds. In fact they should have presented that as evidence when the original law was being constructed.

I have no sympathy whatsoever. We are always being told that we “don’t understand country ways” well if they do then they should have taken steps to mitigate the slaughter of the hounds.

Whitewavemark2 Mon 22-Dec-25 15:45:58

It crosses my mind that those who have enjoyed hunting with hounds could surely ensure the hounds natural survival - after all they have provided the hunters with so much pleasure over the years.

Set up a charity to care for them until their demise.

Jaberwok Mon 22-Dec-25 16:11:29

Hounds will be destroyed as they are impossible to rehome. No amount of retraining will turn them into suitable domestic pets. No one is going to keep a kennel full of hunting dogs for sentiments sake, feeding, exercising on leads individually in case they join up as a pack and set off on a scent. The idea is completely impracticable and ridiculous. They will all with few exceptions be put down. Of course Halal slaughter will continue, after all votes have to be secured and outrage avoided! I make absolutely sure that none of this vile practice gets into this household, family feel the same. A million times worse than Fox hunting.

Iam64 Mon 22-Dec-25 16:16:43

Hounds, horses can be very well trained but their breed instincts kick in, horses are flight animals so when frightened they flee, at speed.
Hounds have hunting through them like Blackpool rock. Life contained in kennels won’t be good for them. My lab is well trained but if he hadn’t been on his lead when he sniffed deer then saw them, he’d have been off. He’s a retriever, not a hunter but he’s a dog and like many dogs, loves to chase.
Stressing here - deer are prolific in the secure field I use for my dogs. So the dogs are always on lead till any deer leap away as they know we are coming.

Im pleased about the proposals on hens, pigs, puppy farming, snares, hares, fish, zoo animals and consult on e collars. Less sure on trail hunting. I’m learning about man trailing, my lab loves it. Dogs instincts need meeting

dayvidg Mon 22-Dec-25 16:29:53

Just wondering how this concern for animals will be effected when it comes to relaxing the planning laws with regard to 1.5 million new homes and renewable energy?