How the 2024 Animal Welfare Review Impacts Licensed and Unlicensed Dog Breeders

The 2024 Post Implementation Review (PIR) of the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) Regulations 2018 has recently been published with some welcome recommendations that illustrates that the licensed breeder community has already found solutions to the recommendations in this report that include ongoing training and digitalision, they just havent been adopted by local authorities.

Whether you are a licensed breeder adhering to welfare standards or an unlicensed breeder contemplating the need for a licence, understanding the insights and recommendations from this latest review is important but what is essential is that breeders understand the 2018 regulations throughly.

This article explores how the 2024 Animal Welfare Review affects both licensed and unlicensed dog breeders, highlighting key changes, challenges, and opportunities within the sector.

What is a Post Implementation Review (PIR)?

A Post Implementation Review (PIR) is a systematic evaluation conducted after the implementation of a policy or regulation to assess how effective it is, what the impact has been, and whether it has achieved its intended objectives.

The PIR examines both the benefits and any unintended consequences, providing evidence-based recommendations for future improvements.

In the context of the Animal Welfare Regulations, the 2024 PIR ensures that the licensing system remains robust, efficient, and aligned with evolving animal welfare standards.

Overview of the 2024 Post Implementation Review

The PIR conducted in 2024 aimed to assess the effectiveness of the 2018 Regulations in safeguarding animal welfare while ensuring that the licensing system remains efficient and proportionate.

The review evaluated the impact of the Regulations on various licensable activities, including dog breeding, pet sales, boarding, horse hiring, and animal exhibitions. However, we will focus on the welfare of dogs for the purpose of this article.

The review claims to gave engaged with a broad spectrum of stakeholders, licensed and unlicensed breeders, local authorities, animal welfare organisations, and businesses. This is not published and as far as we’re aware, none of our licensed members have engaged directly. It’s certainly possilble that members views have been indirectly submitted via a third party.

The PIR provided a comprehensive analysis of the current regulatory landscape and proposed actionable recommendations for future improvements.

Key Findings Relevant to Dog Breeders

The PIR identified several critical areas where the 2018 Regulations have positively influenced the dog breeding sector, as well as areas requiring further refinement:

Enhanced Welfare Standards:

The introduction of clearer and more consistent welfare standards has significantly improved the conditions under which dogs are bred and kept. The star rating system incentivises breeders to maintain higher welfare practices, fostering public confidence in licensed operations.

However, while our members recognise these overall improvements, our most recent survey of licensed breeders reveals concerns about how the star rating system is applied across different local authorities. Inconsistent interpretation and enforcement not only undermine the intended benefits of the system but also diminish breeders’ trust in its fairness and reliability.

Economic Efficiency:

The review highlighted that the economic benefits of the Regulations have exceeded initial projections. Cost savings from streamlined licence renewals and more efficient inspection processes have been substantial, particularly benefiting medium-risk businesses.

It’s not entirely clear whether these reported ‘economic benefits’ primarily extend to licensed breeders. Member feedback indicates costs remain a significant concern for those who have trained with us and are seeking a licence. Even among our currently licensed breeders, we frequently hear feedback about the elevated costs of veterinary visits mandated by local authorities, often perceived as higher than if arranged privately.

These inconsistencies in expenses can overshadow the purported savings from licence renewals or more efficient inspections.

Increased Compliance and Enforcement:

There has been a notable rise in compliance rates among licensed breeders, attributed to better local authority enforcement and more comprehensive inspection protocols. However, challenges persist in regulating unlicensed breeders, who may operate outside the scope of current regulations.

We agree that enforcement appears effective, tehre are daily reports of new convictions attest to that. However, these convictions by themselves don’t necessarily confirm an overall increase in compliance.

One of our key recommendations to councils is to adopt early warning indicators that help identify when compliance may be compromised.

At My Licensed Breeder, we have invested significant time and resources into developing tools and processes to address these very challenges.We also encourage all our members to use the Digital Pawprint, which replaces outdated manual paperwork with a streamlined, data-driven approach.

When invited by one of our members, local authorities can access this software at no cost, allowing them to monitor compliance in real time. The dashboard not only reduces inspection costs but also saves time, as officers no longer have to trawl through various risk assessments and policies. Instead, they can quickly see where standards are met or need attention, ultimately supporting better animal welfare outcomes.

Growth of Commercial Breeding:

The sector has seen significant growth, especially in commercial dog breeding. This expansion underscores the need for robust regulatory frameworks to prevent practices such as ‘puppy farming’ and ensure that animal welfare remains a priority.

Implications for Licensed Dog Breeders

For licensed dog breeders, the 2024 PIR brings both benefits and possibly new responsibilities:

Licensed breeders could now be required to adhere to higher welfare standards, including better housing, health care, and socialisation for breeding dogs. Achieving higher star ratings will not only enhances animal welfare but will also boosts business reputation and consumer trust. But the addiational cost will never be justified until advertsing platforms and dog registation clubs are encouraged to be more vigilant with certain key indicators that suggest a licence is needed.
The introduction of digital applications and simplified renewal procedures has reduced administrative burdens, allowing breeders to focus more on their breeding programmes rather than paperwork.
With the PIR indicating higher-than-expected cost savings, licensed breeders can benefit from reduced fees and more efficient inspection processes, particularly those classified as medium-risk.
Licensed breeders have greater access to training programmes and welfare resources provided by local authorities and industry bodies, enabling continuous improvement in breeding practices.

Implications for Unlicensed Dog Breeders

Unlicensed breeders face a more complex landscape following the PIR:

The PIR emphasises the need for stricter enforcement against unlicensed breeding operations. This includes more rigorous inspections and potential penalties for non-compliance, making it imperative for unlicensed breeders to assess their status.
Many unlicensed breeders may need to transition to obtaining a licence to avoid legal repercussions and to participate in a regulated and reputable market. Tools like our Do I Need a Licence? quiz can help breeders determine their licensing requirements.
Unlicensed breeders often operate without access to the resources and support available to their licensed counterparts, making compliance with new regulations more challenging. Additionally, inconsistencies in enforcement across different local authorities can create uncertainty.
Operating without a licence exposes breeders to fines and legal actions, which can have significant financial implications. Moreover, unlicensed breeders may struggle to compete with licensed breeders who benefit from enhanced reputations and consumer trust.

Conclusion

The 2024 PIR clearly underscores a shared goal among all stakeholders, Defra, local authorities, breeders, and welfare groups to maintain the highest standards of dog welfare and regulatory compliance. However, as our members’ experiences have shown, achieving consistent enforcement across different local authorities remains a significant challenge.

Defra and local authorities have a real opportunity to drive meaningful improvements by:

Leveraging innovative tools like the Digital Pawprint can streamline inspection protocols, reduce administrative costs, and provide early indicators when compliance may be at risk.
Implementing better data-driven insights can help local authorities identify potential non-compliance before it escalates, thereby safeguarding animal welfare more effectively.
Aligning fees, inspection criteria, and enforcement methods across regions will remove inconsistencies and strengthen public confidence in licensed operations.

At My Licensed Breeder, we stand ready to help bridge these gaps. Our network of licensed breeders already incorporates ongoing training and digital record-keeping, illustrating that many of the PIR’s recommendations are not merely aspirational they are actively in use and delivering results.

By collaborating more closely with our community, local authorities and Defra can use tried-and-tested systems that enhance animal welfare, streamline inspections, and bring greater transparency to the licensing process. This partnership can ensure that both licensed and unlicensed breeders are guided toward best practices, ultimately supporting the the combined mission of safeguarding dog welfare across England.