Welsh gundog displays and hound parades escape licence threat

Gundog displays and hound parades across Wales have been saved from licensing requirements after the Welsh Government abandoned controversial proposals following its consultation on “Licensing of Animal Welfare Establishments, Activities and Exhibits”.

The Countryside Alliance lobbied for several years against proposals which could have seen hound parades, gundog displays and other animal-related activities require an individual licence from the local authority, with a hefty price tag attached and an inspection regime.

Rachel Evans, the Alliance’s Wales Director, warned the proposals would unnecessarily burden the voluntary sector: “The focus should be on those areas where there is clear evidence of a problem. We must not lose sight of the purpose of any regulation, which is to ensure animal welfare, not to regulate human activities purely because they involve human-animal interaction.”

The Welsh Government will press ahead with proposals for the regulation of animal welfare establishments, including rescues, sanctuaries, rehabilitation and rehoming centres. It will also focus on regulating dog grooming, a sector that is increasing in the number of providers.

The Welsh Government has said it will “maintain a watching brief on animal exhibits” and remains “open to future re-evaluation”.

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