The Welsh Government has published the Animal Welfare Network for Wales (AWNW) Code of Best Practice for Animal Welfare Establishments. At Hope Rescue we have worked hard as a member of the AWNW working group that has developed the Code.

The Code considers not only welfare standards, but important issues such as governance, health and safety, and staff and volunteer management.

Although it is still a voluntary document, we welcome its publication but believe that it should become enshrined in regulation. There are currently no regulations or standards governing rescues in Wales.

Sadly, we have seen third party puppy sellers masquerading as rescues in an attempt to bypass Lucy's Law. We have also seen evidence of some very poor welfare practices by those entrusted to care for animals, and there have been a number of high-profile prosecutions recently.

You can read the Code of Best Practice in full.