Committee publication · Correspondence · 9 December 2025

Correspondence from the Animal Sentience Committee regarding their report on XL Bullies and the Dangerous Dogs Act, dated 28 November 2025

From: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

Inquiry: Work of the Department and its arm’s-length bodies

Summary

The Animal Sentience Committee Chair notifies the EFRA Committee Chair that the Animal Sentience Committee has published a report on XL Bullies and the Dangerous Dogs Act (28 November 2025). The report examines whether government policy adequately considers animal welfare impacts. The government is required to respond by 13 April 2026.

Key findings

  • Animal Sentience Committee has published a report examining XL Bullies and the Dangerous Dogs Act
  • The report assesses whether government policy has had due regard to adverse effects on animal welfare
  • Government response deadline set for 13 April 2026
  • Animal Sentience Committee was established under the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022 to provide parliamentary accountability on animal welfare in ministerial decisions

Tone

Procedural

Topics

animal-welfaredangerous-dogssentience

Key actors

Alistair Carmichael, Michael Seals, Animal Sentience Committee, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

Notable line

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.
Michael Seals · explaining the committee's statutory role
This report requires Government to respond. They are expected to do so by Monday 13 th April
Michael Seals · setting the government response deadline
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Source · parliament.uk record ↗