Licensing of Animal Rescue Organisations 

These cases concern different issues and organisations, and in some instances investigations by regulators or law-enforcement bodies are ongoing. It would therefore be inappropriate for the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes (ADCH) to comment on the specifics of those cases. Where concerns arise, they are matters for the relevant authorities and regulators to investigate. 

However, these situations do highlight an important issue for the animal rescue sector: the need for clear and consistent standards and appropriate regulation. 

For over a decade ADCH has been advocating for the introduction of mandatory licensing of animal rescue organisations across the UK and Ireland. Through our Legislative Committee, we have been engaging with governments and policymakers for the past decade to encourage the adoption of a licensing system based on the ADCH Minimum Welfare and Operational Standards. 

To date, Scotland is the only jurisdiction within the UK and Ireland to have introduced a licensing regime for animal sanctuaries and rehoming centres, following a consultation which received overwhelming public support. 

In Wales, a government consultation on licensing rescues received strong support across the sector, and we hope the incoming Government will enact this over the coming year.  

In England, the Government’s Animal Welfare Strategy for England (2025) committed to launching a consultation on licensing rescue and rehoming organisations, and ADCH continues to engage with Defra officials and parliamentarians to support progress in this area. 

In Northern Ireland, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has indicated that it will examine the introduction of licensing for rescue and rehoming organisations as part of its Animal Welfare Pathway 2025–27. ADCH continues to engage with relevant officials and policymakers in Northern Ireland on this issue. 

The introduction of consistent licensing for animal rescue organisations using ADCH standards would provide a clear regulatory framework and support the maintenance of appropriate standards across the sector. 

In the meantime, ADCH members commit, as a condition of membership, to meeting our Minimum Welfare and Operational Standards, which set out clear expectations around animal welfare, governance, transparency and responsible rescue practices. All ADCH members are also registered charities and operate under the oversight of their respective charity regulators. 

A list of our member organisations that commit to the ADCH Minimum Welfare and Operational Standards is available on our Members page.