The UK Government has launched what it describes as its most ambitious animal welfare strategy in a generation, with headline proposals to ban electric shock collars for pets and outlaw trail hunting over fears it masks illegal fox chasing.
Core Proposals of the New Strategy
Unveiled on Monday 22 December 2025, the wide-ranging plan builds on recent legislative changes targeting puppy smuggling and increasing penalties for livestock worrying. Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds announced the strategy during a visit to Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, stating the Government is acting to raise standards "for animals in the home, on the farm and in the wild."
The strategy is divided into three key areas: pet welfare, farm animal welfare, and wild animal protection. For pets, a central measure is a consultation on banning electric shock collars, amid concerns they cause harm. The Government also plans a public safety campaign on responsible dog ownership, following recent controversies over XL bully-type breeds.
Farm and Wild Animal Protections
For farmed animals, the plans include moving away from colony cages for laying hens and pig farrowing crates, and introducing more humane slaughter methods for farmed fish. In the wild, the proposed ban on trail hunting is joined by plans to prohibit snare traps and introduce a closed hunting season for hares.
Downing Street firmly rejected suggestions that these reforms represent a "war on the countryside." The Prime Minister's spokesman emphasised the Government's high regard for rural life, while also dismissing claims from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage that the trail hunting ban made Labour "authoritarian control freaks."
Reaction and Political Controversy
The announcement has sparked strong reactions from both animal welfare advocates and rural groups. Thomas Schultz-Jagow, director of advocacy at the RSPCA, welcomed the strategy as "a significant step forward" with the potential to improve millions of animals' lives.
Conversely, Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, strongly objected to the trail hunting ban. He argued it is a legal activity supporting rural jobs and communities, and accused the Government of pursuing a "divisive" policy based on spurious claims rather than evidence.
The Conservative opposition criticised the timing of the announcement, suggesting it was "snuck out just before Christmas to avoid scrutiny." Shadow Environment Secretary Victoria Atkins accused Labour of favouring foreign farmers by allowing substandard imports to undercut UK welfare standards, a claim a Labour spokesperson countered by pointing to the Conservatives' own record on agriculture budgets and trade deals.
