A hard fought battle not yet won: Two centuries of UK animal protection law
The UK has long been proud of its reputation as a world leader in legal protection for animals. In our first insight of 2026, we look back on our history of legislating to protect farmed animals. This history makes clear that while profound, progress has always been imperfect and there is more work to be done to secure in practice a legal regime a nation of animal lovers can be proud of. The below history provides an overview on the laws that apply for farmed animals. The below history provides an overview on the laws that apply for farmed animals.
1809. First attempts to introduce legal protection for animals
Over two centuries ago, in 1809, the first bill to attempt to introduce rights for ‘domesticated animals’, including cattle and horses was introduced by Lord Erskine. The bill was aimed at proscribing malicious wounding, wanton cruelty and other abuses. However it faced opposition in Parliament on the basis of its radicalism, being the first law to apply to protect non-human animals. It was also opposed because of the perceived uncertainty of what exactly it outlawed, with questions raised as to what suffering could be considered necessary. Facing these headwinds, Erskine’s bill was unable to pass.
1822. Second, successful attempt: Martin’s Act
Following Erskine’s failure, Richard Martin MP for Galway, known as ‘Humanity Dick’ became the champion for animal protection in Parliament. While Martin’s first bill to stop the ill treatment of horses was received in Parliament with laughter and ridicule, in 1822 Martin succeeded in securing the passage of the Ill Treatment of Horses and Cattle Act, now known as ‘Martin’s Act’. Martin’s Act is believed to be the first notable success of the animal welfare lobby in the world, and made it an offence to ‘wantonly and cruelly beat abuse or mistreat’ certain species of animal including horses, sheep, and cattle. Despite its symbolic significance, the Act faced significant difficulties in enforcement which resulted in Martin himself bringing the Act’s first prosecution which led to the conviction of two men.
1839-1849. Strengthening of Protections
While Martin’s Act intended to criminalise the practice of ‘bull baiting’ (a cruel blood sport which involved pitting bulls against dogs), some judges refused to interpret ‘cattle’ as including bulls, and therefore to convict bull baiters. This was remedied by an 1835 amendment, which made baiting an offence. The amendment also expanded protections to any domestic animals, and led to the creation of animal shelters and vet hospitals.
Legal protections for animals were strengthened by the 1849 Cruelty to Animals Act which made it an offence to beat or ill treat any animal, or cause another person to inflict that ill treatment. This Act also contained the first measures to provide for animals going to slaughter, including that they be given food and water.
1911. A legal landmark - Protection of Animals Act
While the nineteenth century marked significant progress in the legal protections for animals, continued unease with the treatment of animals led to enactment of broader protections in the Protection of Animals Act 1911. This act provided protection against mistreatment for ‘any animal’ except for those explicitly excluded, and importantly placed a duty on owners to protect their animals. Notably, this Act did not apply to protect wild animals or to the killing, or preparation for killing of animals raised for food unless there was unnecessary suffering. Despite these omissions, this act was a landmark moment for animal protection law and provided a model that was used by countries across the world.
2006. How animals are protected today
The 1911 Act was only replaced in 2006 with the current Animal Welfare Act 2006, which celebrates its twentieth anniversary this year. This Act, and the regulations which have been made under it, recognises animals as beings whose complex needs ought to be provided for and should be protected against both physical and mental suffering.
Although enacted 20 years ago, the Animal Welfare Act’s promise to protect animals from unnecessary suffering - which traces back to our earliest animal protection laws - remains unrealised. Not only that certain animals, such as wildlife and invertebrates, remain unprotected under the Act.
Not only that, certain animals, such as wildlife and invertebrates, remain unprotected under the Act.
This year, we are working with organisations across the sector to remind the government to put animals back into the Animal Welfare Act and ensure that the protections for animals provided in law, are realised in practice.
