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| -Image by Copilot |
Thank you to Domenic Dyer and A Humane World for Animals who alerted me to most of these.
Wins for Cats and Dogs
As of June 2025, the European Union has passed strong laws to ensure better treatment of domestic animals -particularly cats and dogs, and to harmonise laws right across the European Union, particularly targeting unregulated breeding, puppy mills, online sales, non -essential surgeries on animals and other regulations such as breeding for looks. By way of example, dogs such as pugs and bulldogs shouldn’t be bred to enhance their brachycephalic features -their pushed in faces and shortened skulls, since these often result in breathing difficulties. Leaving dogs on chains for long periods or using choke or pronged collars are also being heavily restricted.
Clear and uniform standards have been set with respect to how and how often female animals may be bred and every cat or dog sold, adopted or moved across borders must be microchipped and registered on a linked data base to ensure the return of lost pets, make it more difficult illegal breeders and prevent the theft of dogs for illegal dog fights.
We are now seeing such laws being put into effect in individual countries. France and Germany for example, have recently beefed up their animal welfare laws with France promising greater emphasis on enforcement, especially about pet abandonment – there’s a € 45,000 fine, and stronger measures against tail docking, electric collars and muzzles, animal tattooing and non -essential procedures.
Prospective pet owners must sign a certificate confirming their understanding of the care and management of their new pets. It is also spending around €3 million to sterilise stray cats -a much more sensible and humane approach than the cruel culling of stray dogs which is currently underway in Turkey.
Germany is intent on closing some gaps in its animal welfare provisions, particularly with respect to ending cruel breeding practices and regulating the online pet trade. Would -be buyers must now show ID before sales can be made. It too is opposed to non -essential surgeries on pets and is cracking down on those who keep animals tied up for long periods. Slaughterhouses are also to have video surveillance.
Ontario (Canada) is in the process of outlawing declawing of cats and debarking of dogs along and other cosmetic procedures such as ear cropping and tail docking under its new PAWS ACT, though the latter is not explicitly stated.
Anyone who gets or got a dog after June 2025 – any size or breed, in Canton Zurich (Switzerland) will be required to do a mandatory training course, complete with exams. Some exemptions apply such as for dogs over 10 years old, for guide dogs and working dogs such as muster dogs and recognised guard dogs
Dozens of jurisdictions ban the sale of dogs and cats in pet stores and this idea is rapidly spreading across Europe and North America in order to starve puppy‑mill supply chains and encourage adoption instead instead of commercial breeding.
Firework Bans
Many pets will be relieved to know that firework bans have been formally passed in the Netherlands, starting from New Year's Eve 2026, though this isn't just about animal welfare, but also concerns about property damage, the environment and the approximately 1200 people treated for injuries last New Year's Eve. The Netherlands now joins Ireland and many other European countries and regions such as parts of Belgium, Germany, Austria and Switzerland who have restricted the sale of fireworks to the public, only to professionals or altogether.
Farm Animals
The UK is the first country to have banned live animal exports of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and horses for slaughter and fattening under its Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Act 2024. which bans all live exports of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and horses for slaughter or fattening with other countries expected to follow suit in the near future.
There are still some exemptions in the UK’s ban. For example, transport within the UK is excluded and poultry may still be shipped, but we are less likely to hear heartbreaking reports of thousands of sheep being trapped aboard ships in heatwaves, as we have heard from time to time in recent years.
New Zealand has had a ban since 2023. Australia will phase it out by 2028 and the European Union is considering it after years of pressure. Several member states - Germany and the Netherlands for example, already impose limits
Dogmeat, Horsemeat, Pâté de foie gras
South Korea will end the dogmeat trade with all farms and slaughterhouses closing by 2027. In anticipation of the ban, another 1204 dogmeat farms have closed leaving only around 330 at present, down from 17,000 a decade ago. Furthermore, the idea of ending of the dog and cat meat trade is catching on in other Asian countries including China, Vietnam, Indonesia and India. In India, livelihood conversion programs are underway to help people transition out of the trade.
Italy is in the process of banning horsemeat consumption, despite opposition from the industry, chefs and hunting groups.
Another region in Belgium – Flanders, has banned force -feeding of Geese for pâté de foie gras production, leaving only a small number of manufacturers in Walloon who are continuing this practice which is increasingly seen as cruel and unnecessary.
- European Union: The EU has strict regulations limiting debeaking (beak trimming) to minimize harm, recommending it only as a last resort to prevent injurious pecking. Some member states have stronger national rules.
- Switzerland: Has banned debeaking altogether, focusing on improved animal husbandry and genetics to reduce pecking.
- Sweden and Norway: Also have bans or severe restrictions on beak trimming.
An End to Culling of Day Old Chicks
The culling of day -old male chicks is being phased out in a number of European countries because there are new methods of sexing chickens well before they hatch. These include Spectroscopic analysis of hormones or genetic markers through the eggshell, fluorescence and chemical sensors detecting sex-specific compounds and non-invasive imaging techniques that identify sex early in incubation. Read more about the new technologies here.
Countries which have banned the practice include:
-Germany: Banned the culling of male chicks starting in 2022.
-France: Passed legislation to ban chick culling by 2022.
-Austria: Has prohibited the practice since 2020.
-Netherlands: Phased out culling by 2022, promoting in-egg sexing technology.
-Italy: Plans to ban chick culling by 2023.
-United Kingdom: Has committed to ending chick culling but timelines vary by producer.
Pigs
If the European Commission has it's way, pigs are in for a better life too. It has set out the amount of space which must be allowed for each pig, according to its size and they must be allowed movement and social interaction as well as food of sufficient quantity and quality, especillay in group housing situations. In adddition, there must be adequate light, thermal comfort and an absence of noise beyond 85 dBA.
Procedures such as tail docking, removal of tusks, tooth cutting and castration should no longer be performed routinely, but only when there is evidence of necessity, such as ear and tail biting in the case case of tooth grinding, or aggression in the case of castration. When performed on pigs more than seven days old, these procedures must be carried out under anaethesia and hygenic conditions by a veterinarian and with pain relieving medication afterwards. The Commission is also calling for more scientific research into making such procedures unnecesssary.
Lastly there are to be regular inspections and training for those involved in the care and management of pigs.
Horse Drawn Carriages
Several countries, regions and cities worldwide are phasing out horse-drawn carriages, often replacing them with electric or other non-animal alternatives for ethical and welfare reasons with New York being the latest city to call for a ban. Read the article to find out why.
In 2024, San Antonio, Texas became the first US city to phase out horse-drawn carriages after public concerns about animal welfare and was soon joined by places such as Montreal, Chicago, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Biloxi, (Mississippi) and parts of Florida, along with London, Oxford, Paris, Toronto and Beijing. [This info has come from various sources, hence the separate listing].
Cartagena, Colombia began the final phase of replacing all traditional horse-drawn tourist carriages with electric versions at the end of 2025.
One for the Bees
Alarmed at the decline in US bee populations, actor Morgan Freeman has turned his 124-acre ranch in Mississippi into a Bee Sanctuary beginning in 2014 with 26 hives and planting clover, lavender, magnolia and bee friendly fruit trees.
Lab Animals
According to the European Group for Animals a 2020 European Commission Report showed that in the EU some 23 million animals were subject to scientific research including dogs, rabbits and primates. Many of these animals are kept in inhumane conditions and as well as suffering needlessly in the name of science. Even worse, some studies have shown that results which work on animals - for example, those related to Alzheimer's treatment, do not necessarily work on humans.
Fortunately, here too, science has come to the rescue here with new methods of testing, which do not involve animal research and are in many cases better predictors of outcomes in humans. These include growing cells in vitro, using stem cells, organoids- miniature organs grown from stem cells, and computational models to assess the effects of products and procedures on humans. These not only remove ethical and animal welfare concerns, but are cheaper, faster and often produce more relevant and accurate results.
Italy has also been at the forefront of efforts to restrict animal testing, especially that involving primates. It has banned the use of great apes (chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans) in scientific research since 2013 and has promoted alternative methods such as in vitro testing and computer modelling.
Following pressure from shareholders, Animal Rights organisation Peta and many animal lovers, chocolate, biscuit and snack maker Mondelez will not engage in animal testing as of January 2026, unless an importing government legally requires it. This includes popular brands such as Toblerone, Ritz, Cadbury, Philadelphia, Oreos, Milka and Chips Ahoy. Brands such as Ferrero Kinder Surprise and Nutella have never done animal testing at all.
Testing of Cosmetics on Animals has been banned in Canada as of December 2023 bringing it into line with 40 other countries including Australia and the UK. For more on the global campaign to end the sale of animal tested cosmetics, click here.
Canada’s regulatory ban and corporate policy changes like Mondelez’s, together signal a wider shift across both public policy and private industry toward non‑animal methods for safety and nutrition research. It’s important to note that some regulatory and complex systemic safety questions still rely on whole‑organism data in limited contexts, but protocols and acceptance criteria are evolving quickly as non‑animal methods are validated and adopted.
Animals which should be Wild
Indonesia has banned elephant riding in all of its Conservation Parks.
Ending the use of Fur in Fashion
Italian fashion house Dolce and Gabbana announced that it would stop using fur in 2022 joining the ranks of responsible retailers – also responding to changing market demand, such as Gucci, Prada and Armani who dropped fur from their fashion offerings in the late 2010s. Dolce and Gabbana are retraining their fur specialists in sewing of faux furs.
I wonder if in future we will look upon fur trimmings with the horror and fascination as I experienced as a child when older women were walking around with embalmed foxes around their necks. No one is arguing that indigenous communities such as the Inuit should abandon their traditional use of fur and leather for warmth and durability, but thank goodness the mass marketing of such articles as status symbols is mercifully coming to an end.
Bile Bears
As of January 1, 2026 Bile bear farming is being banned in South Korea. A sterilisation program has been introduced to prevent further breeding of bears.
Circus Animals
Although France officially passed laws in 2021 to ban the use of wild animals in circuses by 2028 to allow the industry to adapt, its effects are only now beginning to take effect. The breeding of wild animals in circuses was banned as early as 2023, marking the start of enforcement. The same act forbids the keeping of exotic animals in private homes and the use of dolphins in marine park performances -see more on this in the next section., and the farming of mink.
Some 20 countries have already banned animal circus acts by 2020 and other countries, especially the USA, are looking at similar legislation. Some states - California, Hawaii, Colorado and New Jersey for example, have already passed such laws, but national laws are preferred to prevent illegal activities in one state, simply moving on to those which do not.
Sport and Trophy Hunting
Marine Species
Shark fishing has been banned on Miami Beach, the largest US city to have done so. The ban is being promoted by conservation groups as a model ordinance other coastal cities can copy. Unfortunately both nationally and globally such bans are managed at municipal and state level, leading to patchy enforcement and the same problem as with circuses.
A Safe Haven for Aquarium Whales
Canada has established a seaside whale sanctuary in Nova Scotia for whales which have previously been confined to tanks in Marine Parks for the benefit of paying customers. This is in line with Canada passing its 2019 Bill to end Whales and Dolphins being kept in Captivity. One unfortunate byproduct of the declining interest is that many such facilities are going broke, leaving their captive animals with little care and nowhere to go, since having spent their whole lives in captivity, they are unable to fend for themselves in the wild.
Let’s hope that the mother and son left behind in a crumbling marine park in France, along with some dolphins, will be promptly relocated to this new facility in Canada, before disease, neglect and potential abuse for captive breeding take their toll.
Saving the Octopus
Chile looks like being the first Latin American country to ban Octopus Farming. A similar bill has been introduced in the USA which will not only ban intensive Octopus farming but the import of farmed octopus from abroad as well. The bill aims to prevent expansion of this industry before it scales up in the USA to avoid the kinds of ethical and regulatory problems we have seen with other forms of intensive aquaculture.
Among the major reasons for this is that scientists and others consider octopuses to be highly intelligent, behaviourally complex and solitary creatures for whom intensive farming would be intensely cruel.
The environmental concerns revolve around the use of wild caught fish as feed, disease risks, escapes and local ecosystem impacts.
Antarctic Krill
International Health and Wellness chain Holland and Barrett, has dropped krill products from its 1000+ stores, because of the impact of krill fishing on Antarctic wildlife. As reported by marine Conservation organisation Sea Sheperd, the expiry of an agreement calling for dispersed krill fishing over wider areas to prevent localised depletion, has meant that krill fishers have moved into biodiversity rich areas which threatens populations reliant on krill such as whales penguins and seals. Other pharmaceutical giants such Priceline (AU) are considering similar moves.
Animals and Education
Research confirms that children raised with pets show greater levels of empathy and better social skills than those without. Interactions with animals help children learn kindness, responsibility, and emotional understanding.
A 2019 study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that children with pets scored higher on empathy scales and demonstrated better emotional regulation compared to children without pets.
Several studies cited in the Journal of Pediatric Nursing show that programs which incorporate animals into classrooms or therapeutic settings help children develop compassion and reduce anxiety, promoting a positive learning environment or reducing stress during surgical procedures. Another from 2018 showed that animal-assisted interventions improved social interaction skills in children with autism spectrum disorder, highlighting the benefits of animal interaction across diverse groups.
Many animal welfare organisations also advocate for including animal care education in schools from an early age.
France is among the first countries to incorporate animal care into its National Curriculum (2024) as part of its moral and civic education, making it one of the first large-scale national efforts to formally connect animal welfare and social-emotional learning and seeing it as a stepping stone to making kinder and more caring communities in future.
United Kingdom’s Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) runs school programs teaching children about animal welfare, kindness, and empathy through interactive activities and visits.
In the U.SA. organisations like the Humane Society and Pet Partners facilitate animal-assisted education and promote curricula that link pet care with social-emotional learning.
I am certain that similar programs in other settings such as aged care – hygiene standards and allergies permitting, would also help to relieve anxiety, loneliness and stress. It also works in reverse. Science girl on X, reports that a dog diagnosed with depression after losing her puppies, was sent by vets to a local elementary school. This not only resulted in profound change in the dog – in the video clip, it literally looks as if it’s laughing, and the children look as if they are enjoying it too.
Just Add Animals
Animals may help in other settings too.
- A Mexican construction company Geotest, has put a stray cat called Miauricio, on its payroll as Emotional Support Manager, greatly improving office morale, as well as making the company name go viral. A number of other companies are taking note and even following suit.
- Kishi Station on the Wakayama Electric Railway Line in Japan
has long had a Station Master Cat. The tradition began with Tama, a stray female calico
cat found near the railway line in the 1990s which was appointed Station Master
in 2007, a role that helped boost ridership and saved the local railway line
from closure. Her presence brought joy and a unique charm to the station,
making her a beloved local and national figure. Although Kishi’s original feline Station
Master has gone on to man the Great Station in the sky, and was laid to rest with great honour at a
nearby shrine dedicated to cats, two new furry feline Station Masters Nitama and
Yontama, have been appointed to greet rail passengers.
- Kudos to Chinese iron an steel entrepreneur Wang Yan, who used his wealth to create a shelter for stray dogs, after witnessing what goes on in slaughterhouses in the name of the dogmeat trade while looking for his own dog. He bought a large slaughterhouse and funded rescue operations by volunteers. I don't have current figures, but by 2015 he had rescued over 2000 dogs, even at the risk of going into debt to feed and care for them.
I'll PAWS here, pardon the pun -before I get too carried away! Thanks to Copilot, and Ecosia AI for links and the illustration and also to Claude which I tried for the first time today. I look forward to testing it's code fixing ability!
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