See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy JAMES TAPSFIELD, UK POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 17:12 BST, 30 June 2026 | Updated: 17:17 BST, 30 June 2026
A Welsh Labour politician today insisted people should be forced to go on a training course before they are allowed to own a rabbit.Mike Hedges, member of the Senedd for Gwyr Abertawe, called for the extraordinary restriction to ensure the 'needs' of the pet are understood.At First Minister's Questions, he also demanded the microchipping of cats and a ban on tethering horses.Mr Hedges was one of just nine Welsh Labour members to win a seat as the party was smashed in local elections in May.He told Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth: 'How we treat animals is a sign of the type of society we are and want to be.'If we allow animals to be mistreated, either by ignorance or cruelty, then it reflects badly on us as a society. A Welsh Labour politician today insisted people should be forced to go on a training course before they are allowed to own a rabbit (file picture) Mike Hedges was one of just nine Welsh Labour members to win a seat as the party was smashed in local elections in May'We must remember that the evidence from multiple scientific studies has helped us to understand that a wide range of animals are sentient beings.'This means they have the capacity to experience positive and negative feelings such as pleasure, joy, pain and distress.'I believe we need to legislate on animal welfare, with legislation to include the microchipping of cats, a ban on tethering horses, a ban on individuals keeping primates, end the cage breeding of game birds, ban Larsen traps, and rabbit ownership only after a short training course where individuals can show they understand the needs of rabbits.'Will the Welsh Government bring in this legislation?'The First Minister said Wales is a 'nation of animal lovers' but dodged comment directly on the proposal to restrict rabbit ownership.He added: 'We have said that we want to set high standards for the treatment of animals.'Legislation is one route, and one that we will always be open to considering.'What we always need to do as a Government is monitor – if we're lagging behind or we feel we need another string to our bow, well let's look at other measures that we can take.'
