As animal lovers, we all know that animal sentience exists. They can feel pain, joy, pleasure, fear and other emotions like empathy.
However, animal sentience is not yet enshrined in UK law.
Together, we can change that.
On Tuesday 18th January 2022, MPs will debate the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill in the House of Commons. This is a critical stage as the Bill passes through Parliament.
Will you ask your MP to attend the debate and show their support for animal sentience?
A suggested email to your MP is below. The email asks your MP to support the Bill on Tuesday 18th, and to attend a special briefing by animal welfare charities, too. Feel free to adapt the email and tell your MP why this matters to you.
If you’re not sure who your MP is, you can find their details here.
If you would rather contact your MP via social media, you can find their information here.
Thank you for speaking out for animals. Together we can ensure that sentience is recognised in law.
Template letter you can use
Dear [your MP’s name],
I am writing as your constituent to ask you to support the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill, which will have its second reading in the House of Commons on Tuesday 18th January.
As someone who loves animals, I know that they are sentient –they can experience emotions such as joy, pleasure, pain and fear. This has been proven time and again by numerous scientific reports. Elephants show empathy and pigs have even been found to enjoy computer games.
UK law does not yet enshrine animal sentience. Ministers were bound to recognise animal sentience when we were members of the European Union, but this fell out of our law in January 2021.
With the support of all major political parties, the Government introduced the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill. The Bill recognises the sentience of animals and establishes a new committee to scrutinise Government policy and consider whether policies will have an impact on the welfare of animals as sentient beings.
I support these necessary measures to enshrine sentience in UK law. Please will you speak in support of animal sentience during the second reading debate and vote in favour of the Sentience Bill on Tuesday 18th January?
The bill is supported by a group of over 50 animal welfare charities, known as the Better Deal for Animals coalition. The coalition will be holding a special briefing session for MPs on the bill on the morning of 18th January – you can register to attend by emailing Matt Browne from the Wildlife & Countryside Link on matt@wcl.org.uk
New legislation to recognise animal sentience in UK law was included in the 2019 Manifestos of
every major party. I hope that the House of Commons will come together on this issue and show that the UK truly is a nation of animal lovers.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Best wishes,
[Your name]
Written by Natalie Harney, Campaign Manager
