Petition
Reject Total Ban on Working Animals in Pest Control-Protect Responsible Practice
Rejected
21 signatures
What the petition asks
Support the responsible use of working animals in pest control. Instead of a ban, adopt regulations and welfare standards to ensure trained animals can help manage pests humanely. This minimises poison use while safeguarding wildlife, public health, farms, infrastructure, and livelihoods.
Working animals are vital in humane pest control, managing pests like rabbits and rats, reducing the need for poisons, and supporting conservation efforts. Poisons not only harm target species but also non-target wildlife, pollute ecosystems and affect biodiversity. A blanket ban would increase suffering and harm jobs in agriculture and pest control. Instead, enforce clear regulations, licensing, and welfare standards to allow trained working animals to continue their important work.
Why it was rejected
The UK Government or Parliament was already taking the action it asked for.
We cannot find any evidence that the Government supports a total ban on working animals in pest control. The Government appears to already support the responsible use of working animals in pest control.
Timeline
| 30 Dec 2025 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 2 Feb 2026 | Rejected by the Petitions Committee |
Key facts
Signatures
21
Status
Rejected
Rejected
2 Feb 2026
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 27 Jul 2026.