Written question WQ96833

We have made good progress in delivering our priorities for dog welfare.

In December 2024, I announced publication of the summary of responses to the consultation on the licensing of animal welfare establishments, activities and exhibits. In June 2025, I announced publication of our response to the consultation and next steps. We will begin by developing proposals for the regulation of animal welfare establishments. We will consider pet grooming as a secondary phase of the national model.

In February 2025, I announced we are moving to a ban on greyhound racing as soon as practicably possible.

We held our second annual multi-agency summit on Responsible Dog Breeding & Ownership in October 2024, complementing a series of workshops held throughout 2024. In November 2024, I issued a statement on the progress we have made.

The Welsh Government project, Animal Licensing Wales (ALW) continues to improve welfare standards at licensed dog breeding premises. We have awarded ALW a significant funding extension for 2025/2026.

Since October 2024, work has also been ongoing to progress important and much-needed animal welfare reform via two UK Government Private Members Bills. Namely:

• The Animal Welfare (Imports of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill which makes provision to restrict the commercial importation and non-commercial movement of dogs, cats and ferrets into the UK from third countries, on animal welfare grounds. The Bill successfully passed Report Stage and Third Reading on 4 July 2025.

• The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendments) Bill which includes a number of provisions to deliver amendments to the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 to improve enforcement in response to incidents of livestock worrying by dogs.

We fully support both Bills and officials are working closely with their counterparts to best ensure their successful delivery this third time round.