Petition to provide lifelong vet care for retired service animals

A Petition to provide lifelong vet care and financial support for retired service animals.

This is a UK Government Petition, currently awaiting a government response as more than 10,000 signatures have been reached.

Petition Text:

We want the UK Government to create a national support scheme to provide lifelong veterinary care and financial assistance for retired service animals, including police dogs, military dogs, and police horses.

Service animals protect the public and support the emergency services and armed forces. Many retire with injuries or health conditions linked to their service. Ongoing care costs often fall to former handlers, adopters, or charities.
We want a national support scheme or pension to help fund lifelong veterinary care and welfare support for retired service animals.

You can Sign and Share the Petition Here:  

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/769616

If the petition receives more than 100,000 signatures it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

Westminster Hall Debate

Held on 24th June - discussing the regulation of the use of euthanasia in dog and animal shelters.

The proceedings can be viewed online here - https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2026-06-24/debates/044E04D2-0461-4E4D-BEB2-D81BD89CF492/AnimalSheltersRegulationOfEuthanasia

Exempted Dogs Update - Defra New

There are two changes issued by Defra in June 2026, applying to all exempted dogs in England and Wales as follows:

1. 9 June 2026

Updated guidance to reflect changes to requirements. 1. From 1 July 2026, you will no longer need third party public liability insurance for banned breed dogs, including XL Bully dogs. Updated section ‘Third party public liability insurance’.

1. 2. From 1 November 2026, you must not leave a child under 12 in close contact with an XL Bully dog in a private place (for example a home or garden), without adult supervision.

2. A government press release stated:

3. From 1 November 2026, owners must not leave a child under the age of 12 in close proximity to a banned breed dog in a domestic setting or other private settings place without adult supervision. This will be a condition of the Certificate of Exemption, which allows owners to legally keep a banned breed. 

4. Details can be viewed online here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ban-on-xl-bully-dogs#if-you-have-a-certificate-of-exemption

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Hot Weather Advice - UK Dogs

Some tips to help keep your dog/s safe and comfortable as we reach heatwave temperatures already in May:

Pavements/roads Test with the back of your hand for five seconds. If it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for your dog's paw pads. 

Pet Sunscreen: Apply pet-safe sun cream to exposed, unpigmented areas, such as the tips of their ears and nose, to help prevent sunburn, but keep your dog out of direct sunlight where you can.

Never leave your dog in a vehicle: Temperatures inside vehicles/cars can soar to fatal levels. Never leave your dog unattended, even for a few minutes with the windows down.

Outside & Inside Areas: As the sun moves during the day, ensure that their area remains shaded throughout the day if necessary.

Water: Make sure there is plenty of fresh water available.

Heatsroke: Know the signs of Heatstroke and the correct way to give first aid to cool down - seek veterinary advice.

Walks: If you need to walk your dog - go out at cooler times of the day like early morning and late evenings, use shaded areas if possible.

New Renters' Rights Act - Pets

The Renters' Rights Act received Royal Assent last year at the end of October, the new rules came into force in England on 1st May 2026.

The government states that private landlords cannot impose blanket "no pets" policies in tenancy agreements. 

Every single request must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.  

Under the updated legislation private tenants hold a legal right to request a pet and landlords are prohibited from implementing blanket no pet policies.

Government Update Here

Shelter Housing Advice Here 

New EU rules for pet travel

New EU rules for GB residents from the 22nd April 2026:

The changes, announced by the EU, apply to the non-commercial movement of pet dogs, cats and ferrets entering the EU from Great Britain.  

There are no major changes to pet travel requirements for re-entry into Great Britain.  

Key updates include: 

• GB residents should no longer use EU pet passports to travel into the EU. EU pet passports may now only be issued to people whose main home is in the EU and should not be used by people who have holiday homes in the EU or visit seasonally. EU pet passports issued to GB residents before 22 April 2026 may no longer be valid documents for entry to the EU. This means GB residents – even if they already have an EU pet passport – may need a different document to take their pet to the EU. To guarantee smooth travel, owners resident in Great Britain should get an Animal Health Certificate for their dog, cat or ferret(s) if they’re travelling from Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) to an EU country.    

Individual Member States may have specific pet travel requirements and pet owners should always check the specific entry requirements of the destination country before travel. 

GB residents are still able to use EU pet passports for their return journey to GB.  
Animal Health Certificates (AHCs) now last longer once you arrive, but they are still single‑use. Although you still need a new AHC for each trip from GB to the EU, the certificate can now be used for up to six months for onward travel within the EU and for re‑entering Great Britain, as long as rabies vaccinations remain valid. 

If someone else travels with your pet, extra paperwork is needed. If the owner is not travelling with the pet, the pet must travel within five days of the owner, and the person accompanying the animal must carry written permission from the owner. This permission must travel with the pet’s travel document. 

There is a new five‑pet limit per private vehicle. Non‑commercial travel into the EU is now limited to a maximum of five pets per private vehicle, rather than five per person. The existing limit of five pets for people travelling on foot stays the same. Exceptions apply for pets travelling to competitions, events or training, if specific conditions are met. 

An APHA spokesperson said:
From 22 April, new EU rules change how GB residents travel to the EU with their pets, but holidays with your pets are still possible. 
Anyone planning to travel should check guidance on GOV.UK, and the entry rules for their destination. 
To avoid delays and ensure a smooth journey, pet owners residing in Great Britain should get an Animal Health Certificate if they’re travelling from Great Britain to an EU country.

Information from https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-eu-rules-for-pet-travel-for-gb-residents

The Senedd votes to ban Greyhound racing in Wales

On March 17, 2026, the Senedd voted to ban greyhound racing in Wales, making it the first UK nation to take this step due to animal welfare concerns. The ban is set to take effect between April 2027 and April 2030, allowing for a phased shutdown.

The Bill will ban Greyhound racing in Wales: 

https://www.gov.wales/prohibition-greyhound-racing-wales-bill

A transition period to allow the industry to wind down responsibly, strengthen rehoming arrangements for retired greyhounds, and prepare enforcement bodies and local authorities for the change which will see the prohibition brought into effect between 1 April 2027 and 1 April 2030. 

The Bill reflects a clear policy choice: that the injuries, fatalities, and poor post-racing outcomes associated with greyhound racing can no longer be justified. Despite efforts within the industry, harm to greyhounds has remained a consistent reality. 

Huw Irranca-Davies, Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, said: 

Wales is a progressive nation, committed to ethical standards and forward-thinking legislation. This Bill strengthens our reputation as a leader on animal welfare and delivers the standards that the people of Wales rightly expect.

Thousands of members of the public, campaigners, and stakeholders contributed to shaping this legislation through campaigns, petitions, and personal testimony. Their voices have been central to its development.