In the UK, we love our animals. We share our homes with an estimated 10.2 million dogs, 11.3 million cats and 700,000 rabbits. For many of us, the animal companions we live with are best friends and beloved family members. And they’re often our most significant link to the animal kingdom.
But have you ever stopped to really think about where all of these dogs, cats and rabbits came from? Who bred them? What conditions were they raised in? And what is life like for the mum and dad they left behind?
There are responsible breeders out there who take pride in breeding animals for companionship and who put health, welfare and temperament first. But sadly, there are also lots of disreputable people who just breed pets for profit.
They use the love we have for animals to line their pockets and they simply don’t care who they exploit in the process. We’re determined to stop them.
Explore this section
The story so far…
How far we’ve come…
Next steps…
Actions and updates…
In April 2025 we shared our ‘Licensed Dog Breeding in the UK & Ireland 2025’ report with government officials in Northern Ireland, highlighting a particular concern about large-scale breeding and a lack of transparency in the nation.
In summer 2025, DAERA commissioned an expert-led review of dog breeding regulation in Northern Ireland, which Naturewatch Foundation contributed evidence to. The review’s final report calls for a major overhaul of dog breeding regulation in the nation, including introducing a cap on the number of dogs kept at commercial breeding establishments.
In January 2024, we launched our first ever Pet Rescue Grant to help frontline animal welfare organisations rehabilitate dogs, cats and rabbits who’ve been impacted by the low-welfare pet trade.
For our third Pet Rescue Grant in 2026, we supported One Wish Dog Foundation, Tiny Paws MCR and The Neuter Project. Read more here. To date, the Pet Rescue Grant has supported 10 rescue organisations and helped over 100 dogs, cats and rabbits.
In 2025, we revealed that 4 in 5 UK puppies come from unregulated sources, including unlicensed breeders, illegal breeders and puppy smugglers.
In December 2025, the UK Government released its ‘Animal Welfare Strategy for England’, committing to end puppy farming and consult on strengthening dog breeding regulation in England.
In February 2025, we released our ‘Forgotten Dogs’ report about the welfare of male dogs used for breeding, which highlights how regulation in England and Wales fails to protect them.
In December 2025, the UK Government committed to consulting on expanding bringing ‘stud’ dog services under animal welfare licensing as part of its pledge to end puppy farming.
Victims of the pet trade
Meet some of the former residents of Woodside Animal Centre in Leicester, who were victims of profit driven pet trade before they found their loving homes. Watch their stories below or read more about them here.
Victims of greed breeding
0:16
0:16
0:16
0:16
0:16
0:16
0:16
Report illegal pet breeding
If you know about an illegal puppy or kitten farming operation, or you suspect illegal pet breeding or selling is taking place near you, please don’t keep it to yourself.
We work hard to uncover illegal breeding and selling but can’t do it alone – we need your help. It’s easy and safe to report what you know to us.
