Like you, I consider the practice of non-exempted mutilations such as cropping dogs’ ears abhorrent, and it has rightly been banned in the UK for 15 years. Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, it is already an offence in England and Wales to carry out such mutilations with anyone convicted of such an offence facing a prison sentence of up to five years, receiving an unlimited fine, or both under the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021.
The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill would establish measures relating to the low welfare movements of pets into Great Britain and includes powers to introduce further restrictions on pet travel and on the commercial import of pets on welfare grounds, via secondary legislation.
These powers will allow the Government to prioritise the welfare of dogs by prohibiting the importation, and non-commercial movement of dogs into Great Britain that have been subject to low welfare practices such as ear cropping or tail docking, in line with the UK’s domestic legislation on these practices.
Other new restrictions include increasing the minimum age that dogs can be moved for non-commercial purposes, or commercially imported, as well as prohibiting the importation of heavily pregnant dams.
I understand that the Kept Animals Bill proposes to reduce the number of pet dogs that can travel to Great Britain in one non-commercial movement to five pets per vehicle. This was informed by research and engagement with authorised pet checkers, carriers, animal welfare organisations and veterinary bodies.
Further, under existing legislation, the Animal and Plant Health Agency can undertake checks on pets, including documentary, identification and physical checks. All non-commercial dogs entering Great Britain on approved routes under the Pet Travel rules undergo full documentary and identity checks by authorised pet checkers.
The Kept Animals Bill was carried over into the current parliamentary session and will return to the House as soon as parliamentary time allows. I will continue to monitor the progress of the Bill carefully.