Report farm animal welfare concerns
How to report farm animal welfare concerns to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) in England.
Applies to England
You can contact APHA if you’ve seen:
- farm animals with signs of unnecessary suffering or neglect, such as starving
- abuse or mistreatment of farm animals
- straying farm animals – unless the animals are on a road
- stranded or stuck farm animals if you cannot contact the keeper or owner first
APHA keep all reports anonymous. We’ll never share your details with the farmer, animal keeper or other third party.
Report farm animals that are on roads to the police. Telephone 999 if it’s a motorway or A-road or 101 if it’s a minor road.
Report findings of dead farm animals to your local authority.
‘Farm animals’ include:
- sheep
- pigs
- cows
- chickens
If you’re concerned about wild animals or pets, contact your local council, vet or wildlife rescue centre.
Report an urgent concern
Telephone APHA: 03000 200 301
Report your concern immediately if you see animals that appear:
- sick
- injured
- neglected
- abused
Report a non-urgent concern
Report your concern using the online form if you’re worried about the welfare of a farm animal but it’s not urgent.
What happens next
We carefully assess the evidence and risks in each report. If we need more information, we’ll contact you using the details you gave us.
We will not be able to let you know the outcome of your report.
How we investigate your report
An APHA inspector may visit the location to check on the animal’s welfare, depending on the nature of the concern and if we have the information we need. If the issue needs urgent intervention, an inspector may visit within 24 hours.
Inspectors can also arrange to visit the location with the local authority, who are responsible for making decisions such as prosecutions.
Depending on the circumstances, inspectors may:
- advise the farmer or animal keeper of their legal requirement to look after the animals’ welfare
- support the local authority if they decide it’s appropriate to take enforcement actions or seek prosecution
APHA does not refer animal welfare reports directly to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
Read the privacy notice for more information.
Updates to this page
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The customeradvice@apha.gov.uk email address is no longer in use. A link to the contact form for reporting non-urgent farm animal welfare concerns has been added.
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First published.