Member of Parliament for Epping Forest, Dr Neil Hudson, the first vet in the House of Commons since 1884, recently joined forces with the RSPCA at a Westminster event to advance responsible dog ownership across the country and address incidents of dog-related injuries across the UK. The event followed the publication of a major RSPCA report highlighting the urgent need for holistic measures to reform dog control.
The RSPCA report advocates for measures focused on owner education, accountability, and local flexibility. Recommendations include making positive human-dog engagement a shared responsibility, using evidence-based education, encouraging compliance through incentives and enforcement, improving traceability through licensing, and allowing tailored local responses.
As a Shadow DEFRA Minister and Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare, Dr Hudson has long championed responsible dog ownership. His recent work includes co-sponsoring the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats, and Ferrets) Bill to combat puppy smuggling and collaborating with leading animal welfare charities.
The Conservatives in Government introduced the ‘Petfished’ Scheme to encourage responsible and safe sourcing of pets, and the Responsible Dog Ownership Steering Group to advise the Government on this important area.
Dr Hudson, along with the RSPCA, is keen to make sure that public and, indeed, other animal, safety is better protected with a renewed focus on the importance of responsible dog ownership, along with good animal welfare.
Dr Hudson, MP for Epping Forest, said:
“Constituents in Epping Forest and across the country, and their pets, have the right to feel safe and protected at all times - but as a nation of animal lovers, we must also ensure that dog welfare is considered when we think about how to tackle this problem.
“This is a complex issue, and I will continue working in Parliament to find long-term solutions to promote more responsible dog ownership.”
Harriet Main, Public Affairs Manager at RSPCA, said:
“We really welcome this support from animal-loving politicians to create a new approach to protecting public safety that is evidence-based, effective and compatible with good dog welfare.
“We hope our research and recommendations will help to reduce dog bites and improve responsible dog ownership in the UK.
“It’s great to see so many MPs urging the government and agencies to act - and supporting a co-ordinated approach with other devolved administrations in the UK to achieve this.@
