Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchPC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Good breeding welfare is not decided by a breeder’s reputation alone. Battersea Dogs & Cats Home argues that growing demand and easier online selling can reward breeders who put profit ahead of animal welfare, and it wants stronger rules on who breeds, how they are identified, and how well those rules are enforced. This article explains the welfare problems Battersea describes, the reforms it proposes, where UK law currently stands, and what a buyer can check before taking on a puppy or kitten.
What “welfare standards in breeding” covers
Battersea’s campaign page, “Driving up welfare standards in breeding,” treats welfare as a set of linked conditions rather than a single certificate. The concerns it lists fall into five groups:
- Physical and inherited health: overbreeding and breeding for harmful physical traits, which Battersea links to long-term health problems.
- Rearing conditions: animals bred with little regard for welfare may be kept in unsuitable conditions.
- Early care: animals may miss early vaccination.
- Socialisation and behaviour: Battersea says harmful breeding practices can have behavioural effects, and that animals may be poorly socialised.
- Imports: animals brought in from abroad may carry disease.
Battersea also says that animals bred this way may later be relinquished, so the welfare question does not end at the point of sale. These are Battersea’s own descriptions of harm. The campaign page does not offer a systematic national study of all breeders, so it should be read as a charity’s account of the problems it sees, not as a measure of how common each problem is across the country.
Breeding for extreme features
Battersea singles out breeding dogs and cats with extreme features. Its page refers to brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, the breathing difficulty associated with flat-faced breeds, and reports two clinic figures. Battersea says it carried out 7 brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome surgeries in 2015 and 78 in 2023. These are surgeries at Battersea’s own clinic. They show the workload in one clinic over that period and do not measure the national caseload.
#1 Best Overall
Battersea also reports an 80% caesarean rate for brachycephalic dogs. The page does not give the year of that figure or the study behind it, so it should not be quoted as a current UK-wide statistic. If you need to rely on it, the underlying study and its population details are the things to find first.
How many puppies come from licensed breeders
Battersea estimates that fewer than 10% of puppies in England come from licensed breeders. The estimate is based on Battersea’s own Freedom of Information requests. The page does not state when the estimate was published. It is an estimate, not an official national count, and it should not be described as an audited census.
Rank #2
- Complete Watercolor Paint Set for Kids: This watercolor set includes a palette with 12 bright colors (648 color blocks), two watercolor coloring 52 bookmarks meow&bark designs, a silicone folding water cup, and three washable brushes. It's the perfect art supplies for kids 6-8, art supplies for kids 9-12, and includes watercolor paper and watercolor paint, ensuring every painting session is enjoyable and creative. This set makes an excellent gift for kids.
- Portable and Multi-functional Design: The sleek iron box not only stores all your watercolor supplies but also doubles as a pencil case, making it perfect for Back to School. Additionally, the set includes 52 pre-drawn watercolor bookmarks that kids can color and use, enhancing its utility as a Coloring Book for Kids and a practical school supply.
- Safe and Non-Toxic: Certified by American SGS, this watercolor paint set is 100% safe and non-toxic, making it a reliable choice for kids. It’s a high-quality kid paint set that parents can trust, ensuring a fun and worry-free painting experience. Perfect for a birthday gift or Christmas gift.
- Versatile Use for All Ages: COIPLAY watercolor set is suitable for artists, kids, students, and amateur hobbyists. Whether at the beach, city, park, countryside, or at home, this watercolor book is suitable for ages 6 to 99, from children to the elderly provides endless possibilities for creativity. It's also a great gift for kids who love art supplies.
- Commitment to Quality and Animal Welfare: COIPLAY is proud to be an official ASPCA Business Ambassador. A portion of every purchase goes toward supporting ASPCA’s mission to rescue, protect, and care for animals in need. All illustrations in our watercolor painting books are exclusively created by COIPLAY and are fully copyrighted and patented. This watercolor paint set for kids is not only a fun and creative gift, but also a meaningful way to support animal welfare—making it a perfect birthday or Christmas present.
What Battersea is asking for
Traceability and enforcement sit at the centre of Battersea’s reform argument. Its policy page lists the following asks. They are proposals from a campaigning charity, not requirements that are already in force:
- clearer breeder identification in advertisements
- publicly accessible registers of breeders
- stronger regulation of dog breeding
- regulation of cat breeding
- properly resourced enforcement
The page also describes oversight gaps, including cat breeding and canine fertility clinics. Those statements are Battersea’s position on where current oversight falls short.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Rank #3
What the law says now: the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act 2025
The one piece of enacted legislation that Battersea’s reform argument touches directly is the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act 2025. The legislation.gov.uk record for the Act shows that it gives ministers powers to make import regulations for welfare purposes. It also requires the first regulations for dogs and cats in England, Scotland and Wales to prohibit three categories of animal:
- animals under six months old
- animals more than 42 days pregnant
- mutilated animals
Some of the Act is not yet in operation. The legislation.gov.uk record marks section 7 as prospective and notes that it was not in force at Royal Assent. The record does not establish the commencement status of every provision, or of any regulations made since. Before giving practical advice on importing a dog or cat, check the current regulations on legislation.gov.uk for the country you live in. The record describes England, Scotland and Wales for the first dog and cat regulations, so do not assume the same position applies in Northern Ireland without checking.
How the reform asks map to what buyers can check
Battersea’s pages identify the issues but do not provide a formal scoring system. The table below uses the axes its material points to, and sets out what a buyer can ask or look for. It is a practical translation, not a rating from Battersea.
| Welfare axis | What Battersea identifies as the concern | What a buyer can check |
|---|---|---|
| Physical and inherited health | Overbreeding and extreme features linked to long-term health problems | Ask about health tests on the parents, and how the breeder chooses which animals to breed from. Look at breathing and body shape in the litter and in the parents. |
| Breeding and rearing conditions | Animals kept in unsuitable conditions | Ask to see where the puppies or kittens are kept, and where the mother lives. Be wary of any arrangement that refuses a visit. |
| Early vaccination and socialisation | Animals missing early vaccination and being poorly socialised | Ask for the vaccination record and what the young animals have been exposed to, such as people, household noise and other animals. |
| Breeder identification and traceability | Breeders who are hard to identify, which Battersea wants addressed through clearer advertising and public registers | Check the breeder’s full name and address are given, and that the animal can be traced back to them. Note that Battersea’s public registers are a proposal, not an existing tool. |
| Licensing and inspection | Gaps in licensing of cat breeding and canine fertility clinics, and inconsistent enforcement | Ask for the licence number where a licence is needed, and check it with the local council that issued it. |
| Imports | Animals that may carry disease | Ask where the animal was bred and when it arrived in the UK, and check the import rules currently in force. |
Where to get information and help
Battersea advises people considering a dog or a cat to consider rescue first. It points buyers to two information resources, the Puppy Contract and the Kitten Checklist. For prospective dog owners or breeders, it also points to the Innate Health Assessment. Use these alongside the checks above, not instead of them: a contract or checklist records what you asked and what was agreed, while the checks establish what you can see for yourself.
Best Value
- A Beautiful Puppy Keepsake Book - Your Story tells the unique story of your dog's life. Capture every minute and moment in this beautiful dog keepsake diary. Designed by dog owners and lovers, we've pawwed our heart and soul into making Your Story the ultimate companion to document the life of your dog.
- Room For Photos & Paw Prints - Your Story captures every moment of your dogs life. 65 photos slots to capture everything from their first bath and walk, up to their 5th birthday. Never miss a moment and capture all of those beautiful bonding moments.
- From Puppyhood - The book is a total of 96 pages long and starts from the moment you get your new puppy and covers every milestone. Document their weight, the fun and unique things they do, as well as each birthday and memorable moment. Dog mom gifts have never looked so beautiful.
- A Lasting Legacy - Your Story also acts as a Dog Keepsake Memorial. Capturing moments up until their passing, the effect they have had on your life, as well as how they left an impact on others. There really isnt a better gift for a dog owner than Your Story. Create a timeless dog scrapbook keepsake that your family will cherish for a lifetime.
- KEY INFO: 96 Pages - Storage Pocket - Fits 4x6 photos, Beautiful Quotes, Unique Illustrations. Sections include: Welcoming You, Welcome Home, Naming You, Puppyhood, First Photos, Paw Prints, Weight Chart, Training You, Your Favorites, Year 1-5, Your Adventures, Your Achievements, Your Senior Years, Remembering You . Dimensions: 7 1/2" x 9 1/4"
If you already own an animal bred in conditions you are concerned about, the first step is to contact your local council or the relevant authority, and to speak to a vet about the animal’s health. Battersea’s own message is that the people who buy from unregulated sellers are the ones who most often face the later costs of ill health and relinquishment.
Reading Battersea’s figures and claims carefully
Battersea’s campaign rests on a mix of its own clinic data, its own estimates and general concerns about the market. Each of these is useful, but none is a full national survey. When you quote them, keep the qualifiers attached: the year, the place, and who collected the figure. The page’s headline phrase, “Driving up welfare standards in breeding,” is the campaign’s title rather than a quotation from any named speaker.
Battersea’s own wording, including “signs of poor breeding,” “breeding dogs and cats with extreme features,” “health and welfare” and “prioritise health and welfare,” is a useful guide to how the charity frames the issue. These are the charity’s phrases, not evidence of how often buyers search for particular terms.
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, “Driving up welfare standards in breeding” and “Our policies” (campaign and policy pages, undated in the reviewed copy), and legislation.gov.uk, “Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act 2025” (statutory record with its displayed provision status), are the sources for every claim in this article.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
