Lawyers for Animals

Lawyers for Animals We are a community of lawyers, protecting all animals, and enforcing the law.

A High Court Judge has given permission for our Judicial Review against the Government’s decision to classify animal tes...
28/07/2026

A High Court Judge has given permission for our Judicial Review against the Government’s decision to classify animal testing as ‘key national infrastructure’.

On March 2nd 2026, Maria Iriart from Camp Beagle and Lawyers for Animals filed a judicial review against the Home Secretary in relation to the Public Order Act 2023 (Interference with Use or Operation of Key National Infrastructure) Regulations 2026.

We are arguing that the Government exceeded their powers and made a decision that is irrational.

Mr Justice Sheldon decided this week that our claim “is arguable, and in any event, a matter of public interest”.

The Government will now be required to file evidence and disclose the reasons for making this decision.

A huge thanks to Helen Fry from Bates Wells and Ted Loveday from Maitland Chambers for representing us!

A council in Wales just unanimously approved a plan to breed guinea pigs for meat, alongside rabbits and pigeons, on a f...
20/07/2026

A council in Wales just unanimously approved a plan to breed guinea pigs for meat, alongside rabbits and pigeons, on a family's off-grid homestead.

It sounds like a novelty story. It isn't.

There's currently no law stopping this. UK law doesn't protect by species; it regulates conduct. Meanwhile, it's illegal to sell dog or cat meat in this country. Guinea pigs don't get that same restriction.

The Animal Welfare Act 2006 is supposed to protect them from "unnecessary suffering." And technically, it does, guinea pigs count as protected animals under the law.

But the official slaughter guidance? It mentions poultry. It mentions rabbits. It never mentions guinea pigs.

Over 11,000 people have already signed a petition demanding Wales ban this outright.

Our full legal breakdown which includes a link to the petition is in the comments.

Today, Lawyers for Animals announces its first private prosecution.Elsham Linc Limited, a subsidiary of Cranswick Countr...
07/07/2026

Today, Lawyers for Animals announces its first private prosecution.

Elsham Linc Limited, a subsidiary of Cranswick Country Foods PLC, and the Farm Manager at North Moor Farm, Lincolnshire, have been charged with animal welfare offences following an investigation into conditions and practices at the farm.

The defendants are due to appear at Nottingham Justice Centre on 26 August 2026.

Read the full press release in the comments.

Criminal proceedings are active. The defendants are entitled to a fair trial. Please do not post comments or material that could prejudice these proceedings.

Lock a dog in a cage she can't turn around in while pregnant. That could be animal cruelty under the Animal Welfare Act ...
16/06/2026

Lock a dog in a cage she can't turn around in while pregnant. That could be animal cruelty under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Do the same to a pig for five weeks. That's called a farrowing crate, and it's expressly permitted under the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007.

This is just some of the ways English law treats pigs and dogs differently — not because of any difference in their capacity to suffer, but because of which legal category they fall into.

→ 90% of pigs in England are killed using CO₂ gas. They asphyxiate over approximately 60 seconds. The government's own Animal Welfare Committee has called this "avoidable pain, distress or suffering" and recommended it be prohibited. The government announced plans to ban electric shock collars for dogs on the same basis.

→ Tail docking is explicitly prohibited for dogs under s.6 of the Animal Welfare Act. For pigs, it is a government-approved permitted procedure — and occurs on 85% of farms.

→ Pigs can be transported for up to 24 hours without rest. On water, the law requires it be provided at "appropriate intervals" — a phrase it leaves undefined.

Pigs are, by most scientific measures, at least as intelligent as dogs. The law does not yet reflect that fact.

We've published a breakdown on our Substack. Link in the comments.

He killed her animals first.This is Holly Bramley’s story, her mother’s campaign, and what the research tells us about t...
02/06/2026

He killed her animals first.

This is Holly Bramley’s story, her mother’s campaign, and what the research tells us about the connection between animal cruelty and domestic violence.

Full article in bio. Or comment “Holly” and we’ll send you the link.

We are not your typical organisation, and this is not a typical fundraiser.We can’t tell you everything because we’re wo...
29/05/2026

We are not your typical organisation, and this is not a typical fundraiser.

We can’t tell you everything because we’re working inside the criminal courts. But here’s what we can tell you:

150+ undercover investigations obtained. 769+ hours of footage legally reviewed. Alleged violations of the law found on the majority of farms investigated. 12 prosecutions on the horizon.

We have the infrastructure. We just need the funds.

We need to raise £20,000 by the end of June to continue with this work. We are asking you to trust the process, and to help us reach the finish line.

Comment ‘Yes’ below and we’ll send you the link to donate. Even a monthly gift of £2 makes a real difference.

🇬🇧 UK taxpayer? Your donation is worth 25% more through Gift Aid at no extra cost to you.

Our concerns about Hartshead Meats have been heard, and action has been taken.Following footage alleging serious animal ...
19/05/2026

Our concerns about Hartshead Meats have been heard, and action has been taken.

Following footage alleging serious animal welfare violations at Hartshead Meats Ltd in Mossley, we raised formal concerns with the Food Standards Agency. The FSA has confirmed to local MP Jonathan Reynolds that a full investigation is now underway. Competence certificates have been suspended or removed, preventing specific individuals from working with animals at the site.

We have published a full analysis of the law, the investigation, and how courts in other countries have approached the same question.

Full analysis in the comments.

Our Co-Founder, Ayesha Smart, was featured in an ITV News exclusive investigation into British bird shooting farms, expo...
09/05/2026

Our Co-Founder, Ayesha Smart, was featured in an ITV News exclusive investigation into British bird shooting farms, exposing the conditions birds endure before being shot.

Undercover footage obtained by revealed birds kept in cramped, barren cages with little or no enrichment, denied veterinary care, fitted with beak management devices to suppress natural behaviours, and some found with piercings through their septum.

As Ayesha put it — there’s no underlying justification for that.

💬 Comment CAGES and we’ll send you the full ITV News investigation directly.

Seven horses died at Kempton Park across four consecutive meetings earlier this year — approximately six times the BHA’s...
06/05/2026

Seven horses died at Kempton Park across four consecutive meetings earlier this year — approximately six times the BHA’s own average.

We asked the British Horseracing Authority what happened. They said we had no standing to ask.

We’ve published the full correspondence so you can read it yourself.

Comment HORSE below and we’ll send you the link.

29/04/2026

Thank you for being a part of our community 🫂

We had so much fun celebrating our launch with so many campaigners, researchers, and lawyers. We believe spending time together is a highly valuable way to build movement capacity for animal protection.

We hope to gather with you soon!

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