Puppy farming and trail hunting to be banned - but critics warn of 'war on the countryside'

Puppy farms, trail hunting and snare traps are all set to be banned under animal welfare reforms being introduced by the government.

Ministers have today unveiled the government's Animal Welfare Strategy, which also takes aim at other measures seen as cruel, such as shock collars, as well as cages and crates for farm animals.

But while proposals to improve animals' lives have been welcomed, Labour have been accused of acting like "authoritarian control freaks" for plans to ban trail hunting.

This is the practice that sees an animal scent laid through the countryside, which then allows riders and dogs to 'hunt' the smell.

Labour banned fox hunting outright in 2004, but Sir Keir Starmer's government has suggested trail hunting is now "being used as a smokescreen for hunting" foxes.

Announcing the reforms, Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said: "This government is delivering the most ambitious animal welfare strategy in a generation.

"Our strategy will raise welfare standards for animals in the home, on the farm and in the wild."

Under the proposals, puppy farms - large-scale sites where dogs are bred intensively - will be banned.

This is because these farms can see breeding dogs kept in "appalling conditions" and "denied proper care", resulting in "long-term health issues", according to the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

The strategy has also launched a consultation on banning shock collars, which use electricity to sting pets and prevent them from escaping.

Other proposals include introducing new licences for rescue and rehoming organisations, promoting "responsible" dog ownership and bringing in new restrictions for farms to improve animal welfare.

Read more:
How a roundabout could decide the UK's next PM
Starmer will absolutely be PM next Christmas

These will see bans on "confinement systems" such as colony cages for hens and pig-farrowing crates, while requirements will be brought in to spare farmed fish "avoidable pain".

The use of carbon dioxide to stun pigs will also be addressed, while farmers will be encouraged to choose to rear slower-growing meat chicken breeds.

In order to protect wild animals, snare traps will be banned alongside trail hunting, while restrictions on when hares can be shot will be introduced.

The reforms have been publicly welcomed by multiple animal charities, including the RSPCA, Dogs Trust, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, and World Farming UK, as well as by the supermarket Waitrose.

Thomas Schultz-Jagow, from the RSPCA, called the proposals a "significant step forward" and said they have the potential to improve millions of lives.

He added: "People in the UK love animals, and they want to see governments leading the way to outlaw cruel practices which cause suffering. This strategy leads the way by showing a strong commitment to animal welfare."

Meanwhile, the Greens have also welcomed it but warned the strategy must have "real teeth", "clear timescales" and "properly support farmers through the transition and not allow imports that don't meet UK standards".

Adrian Ramsay said: "Puppy legislation must end breeding for extreme, unhealthy traits in dogs. The strategy could go further for animals, particularly by ending greyhound racing, as the Welsh Government is doing."

But the Conservatives have hit out at the strategy, saying it shows Labour "simply doesn't care about rural Britain".

Victoria Atkins, the shadow environment secretary, said: "While it is good to see the government taking forward Conservative policies to tackle puppy smuggling and livestock worrying, Labour is yet again favouring foreign farmers over British farmers by allowing substandard foreign imports to undercut our already-high welfare standards."

She also accused Labour of announcing the strategy on the Monday before Christmas "to avoid scrutiny" as "they know that this will be another hammer blow to farming profitability".

Meanwhile, Nigel Farage said: "So now Labour wants to ban trail hunting. You might as well ban walking dogs in the countryside as they chase rabbits, hares, deer and foxes. Labour are authoritarian control freaks."

The Countryside Alliance, an organisation that promotes rural sport, said: "Why does the government want a war with the countryside?

"Trail hunting supports hundreds of jobs and is central to many rural communities. After its attack on family farms, the government should be focusing on addressing issues that actually help rural communities thrive, rather than pursuing divisive policies that hinder them."

(c) Sky News 2025: Puppy farming and trail hunting to be banned - but critics warn of 'war on the countryside'