Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure animal shelters are (a) appropriately registered and (b) operating ethically.

Rescue and rehoming establishments in England must comply with statutory welfare requirements set out in the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Defra engages regularly with stakeholders across the animal welfare sector, including on issues relating to rescue and rehoming practices.