Committee publication · Correspondence · 21 October 2025
Correspondence from the Animal Sentience Committee regarding its report on Dogs (Protection of Livestock)(Amendment) Bill, dated 13 October 2025
From: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Animal and plant health
Summary
The Animal Sentience Committee has published a report assessing the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill for compliance with animal welfare considerations under the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022. The committee, established to ensure Parliament holds government accountable for animal welfare impacts in ministerial decisions, is notifying the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee and requiring a government response by 8 January 2026.
Key findings
- The Animal Sentience Committee has completed and published a report on the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill
- The report assesses whether the government has had due regard to adverse effects on animal welfare as sentient beings
- A government response is statutorily required, with a deadline of 8 January 2026
- The Animal Sentience Committee was established under the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022 to provide parliamentary accountability on animal welfare in ministerial decisions
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Alistair Carmichael, Michael Seals, Animal Sentience Committee, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, Government
Notable line
“Ministerial decisions. The Committee may produce reports containing its views on whether, or to what extent, the Government is having, or has had …”
Key Quotes
“The Animal Sentience Committee was established by the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022 to furnish accountability to Parliament for consideration of the welfare of sentient animals in Ministerial decisions.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗