By Niamh McConnell

Currently, anyone in England and Wales can establish an animal rescue and rehoming centre. Although voluntary standards exist, being voluntary, they cannot be enforced. Consequently, some providers ignore these standards while other rescues comply.  

For example, recently a man was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment and banned from owning animals for life after pretending to operate an animal rescue.¹ The court found that he deceived members of the public into handing over their dogs for supposed rehoming and rehabilitation services. However, in reality, the animals were subjected to inhumane treatment and appalling conditions. While there are ongoing efforts to appeal this sentence,² had regulations been in place requiring the licensing of animal rescues, this man would likely not have been able to operate and cause such harm in the first place. 

Jack’s Giant Journey, a small charity based in Oxfordshire, advocates for regulation in this area. Last year, it launched an online government petition to ‘Introduce licensing and regulation for dog and cat rescues to protect welfare’.It was signed by nearly 110,000 people and subsequently debated in Parliament on 26 January 2026. The debate had cross party support and was opened by Irene Campbell MP, who has been collaborating with Jack’s Giant Journey to include the issue within the Government’s recently announced welfare strategy.³ As it stands, the government’s animal welfare strategy states, ‘We will also ensure that the existing licensing regime for animal activities is proportionate and effectively enforced and explore whether strengthened oversight of the rescue and rehoming sector is needed.’ ⁴ The government has not yet committed to licensing this sector. 

In the 26 January debate, it was noted that there are regulations already in place in Scotland: The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 (the ‘Scottish Regulations’). While the Scottish Regulations provide some oversight, there are valid arguments that they do not work for all rescue organisations and are not without fault. These concerns were also raised by Jack’s Giant Journey at a recent APDAWG (All-Party Parliamentary Dog Advisory Welfare Group) meeting on 24 February 2026.⁵ 

One particular concern reflects an issue highlighted by the BBC in its recent documentary Rescue Roulette: Dogs From Abroad. With support from the RSPCA, this documentary explained how rogue overseas rescue organisationscan advertise pets online and arrange delivery with little to no proper checks on either the animals or the prospective owners. Many dogs are brought into the UK without thorough health checks or behavioural assessments, raising the risk of disease and other problems. Jack’s Giant Journey argues that this issue has not been properly managed by the Scottish Regulations. Under the guidance for animal rehoming activities published in support of the Scottish Regulations, it states:  

‘Where animals are brought into Scotland and delivered directly to new keepers there will be no premises to inspect and therefore the licensing authority may decide that no inspection is warranted.’ ⁶

The importation of foreign dogs is placing a strain on UK rescue organisations. A recent investigation conducted by the BBC alongside the RSPCA revealed that dogs are often transported directly from  overseas and rehomed with adopters in the UK without first spending time in foster care or in facilities where their health and behaviour can be properly assessed.⁷ Behavioural problems in addition to the cost of treating a dog with health issues are cited as the most common reasons for the relinquishment of dogs.⁸ This places significant pressure on rescue organisations that already operate with limited capacity and funding. 

The next step is for the Government to issue a consultation. The Government’s Animal Welfare Strategy for England indicates that it intends to consult on whether domestic rescue and rehoming organisations should be licensed, although it has not committed to introducing legislation. Following the consultation, the Government may consider drafting legislation, which would need to be supported by adequate resources to ensure effective implementation and enforcement. 

About the author:

Niamh is a first year student studying Law at the University of Exeter. After completing an EPQ on animal law, she has continued to develop her interest in this area by volunteering with a small dog rescue charity and supporting its campaign for greater regulation of dog rescues.

Bibliography: 

All-Party Parliamentary Dog Welfare Advisory Group, ‘APDAWG Presents: “State of UK Rescue”’ (APDAWG, 24 February 2026)  

Charlotte Norman, Jenny Stavisky and Carri Westgarth, ‘Importing rescue dogs into the UK: reasons, methods and welfare considerations’ (2020) 

Chaudhari S and Foster L, ‘Rescue centre owner jailed over dog deaths’ BBC News (20 February 2026) 

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Animal Welfare Strategy for England (Policy Paper, Defra 2025). 

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, ‘Defra announces biggest animal welfare reforms in a generation’ (GOV.UK, 21 December 2025) 

Holden R MP, ‘Richard writes to the Attorney General to extend Oaveed Rahman’s sentence’ (Richard Holden MP, 2026) 

Kath Stanczyszyn, Victoria Archer and Alan Haslam, ‘Imported dogs “posing risk to UK”, RSPCA warns’ BBC News (28 July 2025)  

Scottish Government, The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021: Guidance for Animal Rehoming Activities (15 December 2021) 

1. Shivani Chaudhari and Laura Foster, ‘Rescue centre owner jailed over dog deaths’ BBC News (20 February 2026) ↩︎
2. Richard Holden MP, ‘Richard writes to the Attorney General to extend Oaveed Rahman’s sentence’ (Richard Holden MP, 2026) ↩︎
3. Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, ‘Defra announces biggest animal welfare reforms in a generation’ (GOV.UK, 21 December 2025) ↩︎
4. Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Animal Welfare Strategy for England (Policy Paper, Defra 2025). ↩︎
5. All-Party Parliamentary Dog Welfare Advisory Group, ‘APDAWG Presents: “State of UK Rescue”’ (APDAWG, 24 February 2026) 
     ↩︎
6. Scottish Government, The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021: Guidance for Animal Rehoming Activities (15 December 2021)  ↩︎
7. Kath Stanczyszyn, Victoria Archer and Alan Haslam, ‘Imported dogs “posing risk to UK”, RSPCA warns’ BBC News (28 July 2025)  ↩︎
8. Charlotte Norman, Jenny Stavisky and Carri Westgarth, ‘Importing rescue dogs into the UK: reasons, methods and welfare considerations’ (2020) ↩︎