09.10.25
Yesterday, the Naturewatch Foundation team was at the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) for our annual Celebrating Animal Welfare in Wales event, co-hosted with our friends at Hope Rescue and RSPCA Cymru.
Held in honour of World Animal Day (4 October), the event brought together Members of the Senedd, Welsh Government officials, enforcement representatives and animal welfare organisations.
The event was kindly sponsored by Luke Fletcher MS, a longstanding advocate for animal welfare in the Senedd. We were also delighted to hear speeches from Sarah Carr, our CEO; Billie Jade-Thomas from RSPCA Cymru; Vanessa Waddon from Hope Rescue; and Huw Irranca-Davies MS, speaking on behalf of the Welsh Government.
Looking back and ahead
As Wales approaches the 2026 Senedd elections, the event was an ideal opportunity to celebrate progress for animals while focusing on what still needs to be achieved. Recent milestones include:
- Bans on snares and glue traps
- Investment in animal welfare enforcement, including the creation of Animal Licensing Wales
- The historic commitment to ban greyhound racing in Wales
Launching our joint Dog Welfare Manifesto
At the event, we proudly launched a joint dog welfare manifesto alongside Hope Rescue, RSPCA Cymru, Greyhound Rescue Wales and Blue Cross. Together, we’re calling on the next Welsh Government to commit to five key actions:
- Modernise dog breeding legislation
- Support effective enforcement
- Give abused and neglected dogs a second chance sooner by reducing rehoming times for cruelty cases
- Regulate sanctuaries, rescues and rehoming centres
- Deliver the commitment to ban greyhound racing in Wales
Improving dog breeding regulation in Wales remains a top priority for Naturewatch Foundation, as the current legislation is the weakest in the UK. Strengthening it is essential to protect dogs from suffering in low-welfare breeding establishments.
Celebrating progress and collaboration
Our annual Senedd event is always a highlight in the calendar, providing a chance to bring together those who share a passion for improving animal welfare, to celebrate achievements and to strengthen our shared resolve to advance animal welfare in Wales.
A huge thank you to everyone who attended and helped make this such a special occasion.
Discover more about our work to end low-welfare and illegal breeding here.
