Animal Sanctuaries

Although animal welfare sanctuaries, rescues and rehoming centres (AWEs) undertake hugely important work, the RSPCA has been required to prosecute a number of establishments in Wales where serious failings in animal welfare have arisen. As it stands, anyone can set up an AWE in Wales regardless of whether they have the skills, experience and ongoing funds needed to care for animals. Unbeknownst to many, AWEs can be set up without the oversight of any inspection regime or any legal requirement for strong welfare standards and contingency plans to be put in place. Ensuring that AWEs always have enough competent staff to care for the animals as needed can be a challenge - especially as many undertake their duties on a voluntary basis. Additionally, many AWEs are entirely funded by donations from well-meaning members of the public - the majority of whom are unaware that these establishments are currently unlicensed and unregulated. 

In 2020, the Welsh Government published its Code of Best Practice for Animal Welfare Establishments, aiming to mitigate some of the welfare issues seen in recent years. While the code was welcomed by the RSPCA, there are concerns around its efficiency, with promotion of it limited. As a result, we launched a new report in 2023, Progressing the Regulation of Animal Welfare Establishments in Wales, to highlight the relevant issues and detail how these can be solved via legislative action from the Welsh Government. Positively, the Welsh Government has committed to introducing registration for animal welfare establishments such as sanctuaries, rescues and rehoming centres by 2026. With the relevant consultation having closed in 2024, it is hoped that this will soon pave the way for the regulation of such establishments to protect the welfare of the vulnerable animals within these settings.