On Tuesday 24th February, I stepped out of Westminster tube station and looked up.

The sun was shining, which after months of grey, drizzly British weather, felt almost symbolic. Then there it was: Big Ben standing proudly in front of the Houses of Parliament.

I’ve lived in London before, yet I don’t think I’d ever stood that close to Parliament.

How is that even possible?

As Ambassador for Birmingham Dogs Home, I was attending APDAWG’s annual “State of UK Rescue” event held in Committee Room 14 at the Houses of Parliament.

It was, quite honestly, a pinch-me moment.

Inside the Houses of Parliament: History Meets Urgency

The Houses of Parliament are extraordinary. Ornate. Historic. Heavy with centuries of decision-making.

Walking through the corridors, including the room where Her Majesty The Queen lay in state. The craftsmanship, architecture and history are breathtaking. Photography isn’t permitted in many areas and even if it were, it wouldn’t capture the atmosphere.

But as powerful as the building is, what truly mattered was what was being discussed inside it.

The Current State of UK Dog Rescue

APDAWG’s “State of UK Rescue” event focused on the growing crisis within the UK rescue sector.

The issues discussed were stark:

• The ongoing hangover of abandoned pandemic puppies
• A relentless cost-of-living crisis
• Rescue centres at capacity across the UK
• Greyhounds stuck in the system awaiting rehoming
• Increasing mental health strain on rescue staff and volunteers
• The long-awaited Government consultation on licensing rescue shelters

Dog rescue in the UK remains in a state never seen before and yet the sector continues to fight.

Powerful Voices from the UK Animal Welfare Sector

The evening brought together respected leaders from across animal rescue and welfare, including:

• Battersea
• Pumpkin & Friends
• Pawprints Rescue
• British Chihuahua Rescue
• Greyhound Rescue Wales
• ROLDA UK
• Jack’s Giant Journey
• Dr Scott Miller, ‘The Rescue Vet’

Standing up to speak in Parliament is no small achievement. It is nerve-wracking. It is high-pressure and every single speaker delivered with courage and conviction.

I was particularly moved by Tammie Fox from Pumpkin & Friends, who cares for disabled pets. Her speech was heartfelt, honest and deeply powerful. Advocating for the most vulnerable animals inside Parliament takes real bravery.

These stories were lived experiences.

The Mental Health Impact on Rescue Workers

One of the most sobering themes of the evening was the personal toll rescue work takes.

Rescue staff and volunteers:

• Witness neglect and suffering daily
• Work long hours for modest pay
• Experience emotional burnout
• Carry the consequences of irresponsible ownership

And still, they show up.

My admiration for people working in animal rescue is immense. Listening to their stories inside Parliament cemented something for me and that is the UK rescue sector needs more structured, sustained support.

Why UK Animal Welfare Laws Must Go Further

There is an urgent need for stronger animal welfare legislation in the UK.

If someone harms an animal, the consequences should be meaningful.

Protecting voiceless animals should not feel secondary. It should be foundational.

The upcoming Government consultation into licensing rescue shelters is important but legislation must continue to evolve to properly address neglect, irresponsible breeding, abandonment and cruelty.

The Pet Industry’s Responsibility to Support Rescue Centres

Now I want to speak directly to those working within the pet and animal health industries.

If your business profits from the lives of animals, you have a responsibility to give back.

The pet industry does enormous good but it also influences behaviour. It can drive trends, encourage ownership, and make pet ownership look easy and aspirational.

When reality doesn’t match expectation, rescue centres absorb the consequences.

So ask yourself:

• What is your company doing to support UK rescue centres?
• Are you actively contributing to animal welfare initiatives?
• Could you be doing more?

Whether it’s fundraising, donations, structured partnerships, sponsorships or awareness campaigns there are practical ways to make a difference.

Doing nothing is no longer an option.

A Shout Out to a Leading Voice in Animal Welfare

It was also fantastic to see Marc Abraham at the event campaigning and advocating as passionately as ever.

Marc has been instrumental in pushing for legislative change in animal welfare, and the veterinary profession should be incredibly proud of his work.

If you’d like to learn more about his journey, you can listen to his episode on my podcast, Meet The Animal People, available on Spotify and Apple.

How You Can Support the UK Rescue Sector

This wasn’t just another networking event, it was a reminder.

Rescue centres cannot continue to absorb society’s failures alone

If you work in the pet, veterinary or animal health sectors:

• Raise funds
• Partner with a local rescue
• Offer sponsorship
• Influence your leadership team
• Advocate for stronger animal welfare policy
• Start the conversation internally

We are all in this industry because we love animals.

Now we must demonstrate that love through action.

About the Author

Chris Whatling is Managing Director & Co-Founder of The Animal People Recruitment Company, a specialist recruitment consultancy serving the UK pet and animal health industries. He is also an Ambassador and Platinum Patron of Birmingham Dogs Home and an advocate for stronger support of the UK rescue sector.