Plans for a new law to prevent puppy and kitten smugglers from importing poorly and ill dogs and cats were backed in Parliament last month.
Under the Animal Welfare (importation of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill, people selling pets would be banned from importing puppies, kittens and ferrets under six months old, while heavily pregnant dogs would also not be allowed to travel.
Delivering on a key manifesto commitment, under the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill – a Private Members’ Bill sponsored by Selaine Saxby – legislation will be introduced to close existing loopholes exploited by immoral breeders and traders to illegally smuggle cats and dogs into the UK.
There are a significant number of pets imported into the UK every year, with 320,000 brought in under the Pet Travel Scheme, and 44,000 as commercial imports last year. Support for this Bill builds on the government’s efforts to enhance our world-leading standards of animal welfare. The UK was the first country in the world to introduce animal cruelty offences and is the highest ranked G7 nation according to World Animal Protection’s Index.
Measures under the Bill will strengthen the Pet Travel Scheme to ensure that no one is able to fraudulently import animals for sale under the guise of being an owner travelling with their own pets. This includes reducing the number of animals that can travel into Great Britain under this scheme from five per person to five per vehicle, or three per foot or air passenger as well as ensuring that pet movements take place within five days of the owner’s travel.
The Bill will allow for the introduction of further legislation to raise the minimum age for importing a puppy or a kitten from 15 weeks to six months, allowing them to grow up ahead of being taken on potentially long and stressful journeys which can have a lasting impact on their temperament and behaviour.
Secondary legislation under the Bill also allows for the ban on imports of heavily pregnant dogs and cats or animals with cropped ears, docked tails or that have been declawed.
Richard Fuller MP, who backed Selaine’s Bill and was in the Commons during the debate, said it would bring peace of mind to families looking for a new pet:
We are a nation of animal lovers, which is why this government is determined to fulfil its manifesto commitment and bring pet smuggling to an end.
Puppy smuggling increased by 260 per cent from 2019 to 2020 – it is a cruel trade that we are determined to stamp out to protect puppies’ welfare.
Through this Bill, we will protect pets from unnecessary suffering and the public from criminals seeking to profit from cruel practices towards animals.
Richard recorded a video ahead of the Private Members' Bills being debated which can be watched at https://youtu.be/NZMrs7fttME?si=J7G1XB84Ljrdi77B
