Petitions/Allow charities to rescue dogs with docked tails under the Animal Welfare Bill
StatusClosed
Opened17 Nov 2025
Closes17 May 2026
Government responseResponded
Parliamentary debateNot eligible
Milestones 10,000

We ask Parliament to include an exemption in the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill for registered charities and approved, responsible rescue organisations to rehome adult, disease tested dogs, who were previously docked as working hunting dogs abroad.

Without an exemption, we can no longer rescue Italian Spinoni, and organisations cannot help many other working breeds like pointers, spaniels and griffons. These dogs have sadly lost their tails, docked for working purposes, not fashion, and are often treated abroad as disposable hunting tools. We support this Bill and ask to help improve it in crafting legislation that protects welfare while preventing loopholes. Please involve us, and let us continue to help these dogs.

23,257Total signatures
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Government response

We will work with stakeholders to consider appropriate exemptions as we deliver the relevant regulations. Exemptions will need to be finely balanced against the risk of creating loopholes.

Constituency engagement ranking

Chris Hinchliff
1Chris Hinchliff MP
North East Hertfordshire
219
Jess Asato
2Jess Asato MP
Lowestoft
127
Josh Dean
3Josh Dean MP
Hertford and Stortford
105
Mrs Kemi Badenoch
4Mrs Kemi Badenoch MP
North West Essex
93
Victoria Atkins
5Victoria Atkins MP
Louth and Horncastle
87
Sir Bernard Jenkin
6Sir Bernard Jenkin MP
Harwich and North Essex
85
Rupert Lowe
7Rupert Lowe MP
Great Yarmouth
80
Steve Barclay
8Steve Barclay MP
North East Cambridgeshire
80
John Whitby
9John Whitby MP
Derbyshire Dales
78
George Freeman
10George Freeman MP
Mid Norfolk
77