MP calls for new law to license animal shelters

An animal-loving MP is calling for rescue centres and shelters to be officially licensed to avoid tragedies where animals have not been looked after properly.

Richard Holden, MP for Basildon and Billericay, has introduced a bill into Parliament in the hopes that local authorities can have greater confidence in people looking after animals and give authorities more powers when there are concerns.

It came after the bodies of 37 dogs were found during a police raid at a property in the Crays Hill area of Billericay, Essex, last month.

He said: "If people are going to hand their dogs over to a rescue centre or dogs are being looked after, they really need to know they will be looked after."

The MP, who grew up with two dogs in the family home, said major breeders and kennel owners have to be licensed, but this does not apply to rescue centres currently.

"If people, in advance of being able to set one of these up, had proper licensing... the local authorities can have confidence in the people doing them that they will look after the animals," he said.

"It does mean that if there are any concerns raised, that there are more powers for the local authority, RSPCA, and police can intervene at an earlier stage because they can check on the conditions of the license rather than having to have a significant amount of evidence."

By introducing this, he believed it would "save more animals' lives".

"We just need to get as much support as possible because what I don't want to see is any further tragedies happening when people seek to rehome their animals, but these places aren't properly regulated, they aren't properly licensed, and therefore we're seeing tragedies happen," he continued.

"I think it would make a real difference."

Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.