FortyTwo Talks: Are All Animals Equal Under the Law?

In our latest podcast Marcia Hyde, along with Edie Bowles and Emma Slawinski, discuss the question 'are all animals equal under law?'

Despite growing recognition that animals are sentient, UK law still treats them differently depending on how they are used by humans - whether as pets, pests, farmed animals, or wildlife.

Key takeaways:

• Animal protection laws are fragmented and inconsistent
• Legal outcomes often depend on human use, not animal welfare
• Outdated legislation and weak enforcement leave gaps in protection
• The discussion highlights a growing campaign to strengthen the system by updating the Animal Welfare Act—creating a clear, consistent framework that protects all animals equally.

The bottom line: the foundations for strong animal welfare exist, but meaningful reform is needed to ensure animals are truly protected under the law.

Tune in below:

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Speakers:

Edie Bowles - Edie is a solicitor and the executive director of The Animal Law Foundation and managing director of Advocates for Animals. She has advised almost all of the main animal protection organisations, smaller organisations and individuals across all animal protection law and campaigning.   She often speaks on animal protection issues and has done so in the UK Parliament, the French Senat and the East African Legislative Assembly.

Emma Slawinski - Emma is the CEO of The League Against Cruel Sports and has worked in social justice causes for nearly 25 years, 15 years of which has been in animal welfare – a cause she has supported as a volunteer since she was a teenager. She led the End The Cage Age campaign, a coalition of 170 animal welfare organisations which resulted in a commitment from the European Commission to end the use of cages in farming, she also secured the EU ban on the routine preventative use of antibiotics; used to prop up inhumane farming conditions. More recently Emma helped to secure the British ban on the live exports of animals for slaughter, a government commitment to phase out the harmful use of animals in science, the recognition of animals as sentient in law and the ban on glue traps in England. Outside of her ‘day job’ Emma has also advised government ministers on animal welfare as a former member of the Animal Health and Welfare Board England.

24th Apr 2026

Marcia Hyde

Call 1992