Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential welfare issues from facilities in which short-term care is offered to dogs; and how they plan to protect both dogs, and the communities in which such facilities are situated.

The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 were developed to help improve welfare standards across a range of activities including dog day care, home boarding for dogs and kennelling.

Defra undertook a post-implementation review of the Regulations, which was published in December 2024. The review can be found here and a copy is attached to this answer. The Government is considering the findings.