By Sammie Jones-
A ban on third party puppy and kitten sales in England will be introduced to help drive up animal welfare standards, the Environment Secretary Michael Gove announced today.
In line with the government’s support for the prominent Lucy’s Law campaign, Defra has published a consultation on an outright ban that imposes a duty on anyone looking interested in buying or adopt a puppy or kitten to either deal directly with the breeder or with one of the nation’s many animal rehoming centres.
The British Government will accordingly ban the sale of puppies by pet shops, online dealers and other third party sellers. The strict directions follow a commitment by the Prime Minister Theresa May in December to crack down on cruel puppy farms, and effectively stamp out the grisly conditions found in puppy farming, and also tackle a range of existing animal welfare issues
Environment Secretary Michael Gove praised the campaign which highlighted how these sellers rely on puppies supplied by callous commercial breeders who raise animals in horrendous conditions.
“We will eliminate puppy farming,” he declared in a speech at Number 10, Downing Street.
“We will make sure third party sales of kittens and puppies ends.
“Far too many of the pets that people, with the best will in the world, bring into their homes we know have been brought up in squalid circumstances, in circumstances of pain and suffering and misery which should never be inflicted on any living thing.”
Environment Secretary, Michael Gove, said:
A ban on third party sales will ensure the nation’s much-loved pets get the right start in life. I pay tribute to the Lucy’s Law campaign, spearheaded by PupAid, Care And Respect Includes All Dogs (CARIAD), and Canine Action UK, who have fought tirelessly for this step.”We will eliminate puppy farming,” he declared in a speech at Number 10, Downing Street.
“We will make sure third party sales of kittens and puppies ends.
“Far too many of the pets that people, with the best will in the world, bring into their homes we know have been brought up in squalid circumstances, in circumstances of pain and suffering and misery which should never be inflicted on any living thing.”
People who have a complete disregard for pet welfare will no longer be able to profit from this miserable trade.
REFORMS
The proposed ban on third party sales is part of a series of government reforms on pet welfare including banning the sale of underage puppies and kittens and tackling the breeding of dogs with severe genetic disorders. New laws come into force on 1 October this year banning licensed sellers from dealing in puppies and kittens under the age of eight weeks and tightening the compulsory licensing of anyone in the business of breeding and selling dogs.
As part its animal welfare reform programme, the government is also bringing in higher maximum sentences of up to five years for animal abusers – the toughest sentencing in Europe.