Northern Ireland unveils ambitious animal welfare 10-point plan

Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir is pictured on a visit to Dogs Trust Ballymena where he announced the publication of his Animal Welfare Pathway for companion and farmed animals. Pictured with Minister Muir are Laura Orr, Regional Public Affairs Officer, Adam Clowes Dogs Trust Chief of Staff and Buddy a 6-year-old Labrador cross.

In a significant step towards improving the lives of animals across Northern Ireland, Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir, has launched the Animal Welfare Pathway 2025-27, a comprehensive 10-point plan designed to strengthen protections for both companion and farmed animals.

Announced during a visit to the Dogs Trust in Ballymena, the initiative promises transformative legislative reforms and practical measures to ensure animals are treated with the care and respect they deserve.

The Animal Welfare Pathway, developed following extensive consultation with animal welfare organisations, veterinary associations, agricultural bodies, and enforcement agencies, sets out a bold vision to address longstanding concerns about animal welfare.

It aims to tackle issues such as third-party pet sales, unregulated dog breeding, and inadequate enforcement powers, while promoting responsible pet ownership and improving conditions for farmed animals.

Minister Muir emphasised the urgency of these reforms, stating:

“Caring for our animals should be a priority for all of us, whether they are our beloved pets or in a farm setting. The current legislation and practices simply don’t go far enough to protect animals from exploitation or poor behaviour.

“I want to make sure that our legislation is robust and that we have initiatives in place to ensure the animals we are responsible for are cared for appropriately.”

He added: “This means not only protecting them from bad practices like third-party selling, aversive training and lack of microchipping, but also ensuring that when people do treat animals poorly, our enforcement partners have robust powers and effective penalties.

“The Animal Welfare Pathway sets out a range of practical interventions we will take to strengthen animal welfare within the constrained assembly mandate until 2027.”

Key Reforms in the Animal Welfare Pathway

Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir, has published his ambitious 10-point Animal Welfare Pathway.

The Pathway outlines 10 key reforms, addressing both companion animals, such as dogs and cats, and farmed animals. These include:

1.  Legislative reform to prohibit third-party pet sales, curbing unethical practices in the pet trade.

2.  An expert-led review of dog breeding laws, including regulation of canine fertility services.

3.  Exploring mandatory microchipping for cats to improve traceability and responsible ownership.

4.  Strengthening microchipping requirements for dogs to ensure all pets can be reunited with their owners.

5.  An awareness campaign, building on initiatives like Paws for Thought, to promote responsible dog ownership.

6.  Consideration of licensing for dog and cat day-care and home-boarding services to ensure high welfare standards.

7.  A review of dog licence fees to assess their effectiveness and fairness.

8.  Examining the case for a ban on aversive training devices, such as shock collars, to prevent animal suffering.

9.  Regulation of rescue and rehoming organisations to ensure ethical practices in animal adoption.

10.  Mandatory CCTV in all areas of slaughterhouses where animals are kept, enhancing transparency and welfare standards.

These measures build on ongoing initiatives, such as the Paws for Thought campaign, efforts to eradicate bovine tuberculosis (bTB) through a recently agreed blueprint, and the rollout of new Bovine Viral Diarrhoea legislation.

Progress Already Underway

Minister Muir highlighted that work on these reforms is already in motion.

“Since coming into office, I have been determined to move forward quickly on animal welfare issues and many actions are already in progress,” he said.

“A recruitment competition is underway to appoint an expert advisory group to review the regulation of dog breeding in Northern Ireland and a public consultation on making the use of CCTV in slaughterhouses mandatory has just closed.”

A public consultation on the proposed ban on third-party pet sales is also set to launch in the coming weeks, signalling the government’s commitment to swift action.

Support from Animal Welfare Organisations

The Pathway has been warmly welcomed by animal welfare advocates, including Dogs Trust, a leading rehoming organisation. Adam Clowes, Dogs Trust Chief of Staff, praised the initiative, saying:

“At the start of his tenure, Minister Muir outlined his commitment to improving animal welfare in Northern Ireland. We are therefore pleased to see today’s publication of the Animal Welfare Pathways, reaffirming that commitment and setting out robust measures for improving the lives of our companion animals and their owners.”

He added: “The proposals within the Pathways reflect many of the priorities Dogs Trust, and other rehoming organisations, have consistently advocated for, including a ban on third-party puppy sales, a review of existing dog breeding legislation, and the regulation for rescue and rehoming organisations.

“We stand ready to work collaboratively with the Minister and the Department to help shape and deliver this programme of much-needed, timely, and comprehensive legislative reform that will make a lasting difference for dogs across Northern Ireland.”

A Collaborative Approach

The development of the Animal Welfare Pathway involved extensive engagement with key stakeholders, including the Northern Ireland Companion Animal Welfare Group, local councils, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, veterinary associations, and agricultural bodies.

This collaborative approach ensures that the reforms are practical, evidence-based, and reflective of the needs of both animals and those responsible for their care.

Looking Ahead

The Animal Welfare Pathway 2025-27 represents a landmark commitment to improving animal welfare in Northern Ireland. By addressing critical issues such as unethical pet sales, inhumane training practices, and inadequate oversight in slaughterhouses, the plan aims to create a future where animals are better protected and valued.

For more information on the Animal Welfare Pathway and its initiatives, visit the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs website.