Castle Point MP Dame Rebecca Harris has been made as a patron of the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation, adding her voice to the organisation’s mission to improve animal welfare standards across the UK. The foundation, which campaigns for policies promoting animal well-being, has recognised Dame Rebecca’s consistent advocacy on behalf of animals and her impactful legislative work in this area.
Dame Rebecca follows in the footsteps of the late Sir David Amess, her friend and parliamentary neighbour, who was a patron of the foundation until his death.
Reflecting on her appointment, Dame Rebecca expressed her commitment to strengthening animal protection policies:
“I am honored to join the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation as a patron and follow in the footsteps of my dear friend and colleague, Sir David Amess. Improving animal welfare has always been close to my heart, and I am proud of the progress we’ve made, from banning live exports for slaughter to championing Tuk’s Law. This new role allows me to continue fighting for legislation that ensures animals are treated with the care and respect they deserve.”
Dame Rebecca has a distinguished record in animal welfare, including her role as a Government Whip and Comptroller of His Majesty’s Household, where she was responsible for guiding vital government and Private Members Bills through Parliament. She helped guide the passage of several landmark laws, including the ban on live exports for slaughter, the Glue Traps (Offences) Act, the Pet Abduction Act, and the Shark Fins Act.
Her recent work includes presenting the Pets (Microchips) Bill (Tuk’s Law) in Parliament, which proposes that all pets’ microchips must be scanned before euthanasia and that euthanasia for healthy pets should be an absolute last resort after considering all rehoming options.
Lorraine Platt, Co-Founder of the CAWF, welcomed Dame Rebecca’s appointment:
“We are delighted to have Dame Rebecca Harris as a patron. She has been a steadfast advocate for animal welfare and has hosted key events for us. We are excited to continue working alongside her to further our animal welfare initiatives.”
